By Roy Harper
Cumberland, MD- Ben McDougal and Aidan VanRider may have used different methods, but both were effective on the mound as they led Potomac State to a sweep over Allegany College 11-0 and 6-4 Sunday afternoon at Steve Bazarnic field.
McDougal went the distance in game one, striking out eleven and allowing just two hits. The left-hander was dominate from the first pitch walking four and allowing just one runner to reach third base.
"It was a great effort, that we really needed," said Potomac State Head Coach Doug Little. "It was his best effort of the season, and he shut down a really strong offensive team."
In game two, VanRider pitched 6 1/3 innings scattering eleven hits, did not strike out a batter but walked just one.
"Pitch to contact at its finest," said Little. "It was a fantastic performance from Aidan. He pitched well, hit his spots, we made plays behind him, and he was able to stay out of any big innings."
In the opener, Potomac State jumped out to a 3-0 lead taking advantage of some sloppy play by the Trojans. Cam Cole, who had reached by an error, later scored on another error to open the scoring. Gage Bibey's two-run single later in the inning gave PSC an early 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Chris Harbert led off the inning with a single. After a pair of strikeouts, Reilly Bubb singled and Nik Rubendall followed with another single to score Harbert.
The Catamounts added a pair of runs in the third. With one out Gage Bibey walked. Bryce Suters and Chris Harbert each singled to load the bases. Tanner Haskiell then singled to score two runs making the score 6-0.
ACM threatened in the fourth inning. With one out Nesir Mendez doubled to left field. He moved to third on a wild pitch when Brady Gavula walked. McDougal then settled down to strike out the next two batters to thwart the Trojan rally.
In the top of the sixth, Bubb walked with one out and scored on a double from Rubendall. Maddox Brooks than doubled to score Rubendall and make the score 8-0.
The Catamounts added three more in the seventh on RBI's from Cole, Rubendall and Jimmy Sadler.
"Scoring runs in multiple innings was key for us offensively," Little added. "The guys had a good approach, especially with runners on base and that was the key all day."
In game two, ACM jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Brady Gavula. In the inning, the Trojans had four hits and a walk but were only able to push the single run across the plate.
"It was a Houdini job by VanRider," quipped Little. "I told him I didn't know how he did it. But he pitched like that all day- to contact and minimized damage."
PSC took the lead in the third inning when after singles from Cole and Reilly, Rubendall doubled to score them both and make the score 3-1.
ACM manufactured a run in the bottom of the third, when Cesar Ibarra doubled and moved to third on a groundout from Mendez. Konner Pittman then grounded out to first base to score Ibarra and cut the lead to one.
In the sixth inning, Potomac State added a pair of runs on a RBI single from Kris Sutton and a sacrifice fly from Bubb.
In the seventh, Brooks singled, and Sadler walked and stole second, setting the stage for Harbert who singled up the middle for two RBI's making the score 6-2.
ACM threatened in the bottom of the last inning scoring two runs on an RBI single from Ibarra and a run scoring double from Mendez. Maddox Brooks came in to retire the final two batters on a groundout and strikeout to end the game.
Harbert went 3-3 with two RBI's in game two and 3-4 in game one with a run scored. Maddox Brooks also had six hits in the two games. PSC out hit ACM 28-13 in the pair.