Staked to a 3-0 lead over Christopher Newport University, the Redmen took the field with Dan Grybash on the mound for the seventh inning and the wheels fell off.

The Captains sent 18 batters to the plate, getting six hits, while collecting all 12 of their runs en route to a 12-4 victory over Carthage Friday afternoon at Fox Cities Stadium.

Christopher Newport centerfielder Jeff Eicher led off the inning when he slapped Grybash’s 2-2 offering to centerfield for the Captains’ first leadoff hit of the day.

Carthage catcher Mike Gidding’s error allowed second baseman Adam Larson to reach on what was to be a sacrifice bunt, and Eicher moved to second.

Grybash worsened the situation when he hit designated hitter Jeremy Elliot with his first offering to load the bases. Again, Grybash failed to recover as he tossed wildly to allow Eicher to score.

Leftfielder T.J. Jones battled Grybash to a full count before dropping a single into right field, which scored Larson to tie the game.

With still nobody out, and runners on second and third, Carthage coach Augie Schmidt went to his bullpen and summoned right-hander Dan Roth.

Roth fared just as well, allowing the first batter he faced — right fielder Matt Turner — to reach on a fielder’s choice. Turner made it to second base when shortstop Dave Fellin made an errant throw, allowing another run to score.

Roth would go on to allow eight runs (four earned) in the inning, and in a matter of 40 minutes, the Redmen saw what had been a dream season take a sour turn.

"Anybody who saw us play this year will tell you this wasn’t typical Carthage baseball," Grybash said. Head coach Augie Schmidt agreed with the sentiment, and also cited his team’s youth.

"We had a rough one, but I think we played at our maturity level," Schmidt said. "You know, we’ll try and brush it off and show up again tomorrow (in the losers’ bracket)."

The Redmen actually seemed in control early in the contest, and built a 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, and a third in the top half of the dooming seventh.

While Carthage held the lead, the Captains stayed close, with pitcher Rob Dye keeping them in the game. Dye finished with four runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts, going the distance to pick up his 10^th win of the season against four losses.

Roth took the loss for Carthage, dropping his ledger to 6-2.

With the win, Charles Newport improved to 36-14 and earned a match up with Marietta College at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Saturday. Carthage dropped to 34-10 and will face The College of New Jersey at 10 a.m.

Luke Martin, Jayson Lensmeyer, and Dennis Jackson all collected a pair of hits, while Lensmeyer scored twice and Jackson drove in a pair of runs.

While the top of the Captains' order was productive (a combined 3-13, five runs, three RBI), it was the bottom of the order that shone brightest.

Scotty George, Eicher, and Larson combined for six hits, five runs, and four RBI with a pair of stolen bases.

"Teddy (Tignor) told me before the inning ‘we’ll get you on the board’," Dye said. "I knew it was just a matter of time."

Written By Andrew Wagner
Photos By Lehigh Photo