2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball: Slugfests don't go Huskies' way
Jared Shafran
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
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In the first game of the series, the Panthers took control by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and taking the lead.
Prior to that, the game had been a back and forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads. Heading into the fifth, the game was tied at 3.
Northeastern struck first in the top of the second inning when sophomore David Gustafson hit a solo home run, his second of the season.
The lead did not last though, and in the bottom of that inning the Panthers put up three runs. Junior outfielder Nick Hogan had the big hit of the inning, singling to the gap, which drove in two runs.
The Huskies tied the game in the third inning and then took the lead in the fifth on a hit by sophomore Frank Compagnone, which scored James Donaldson. But again, the Huskies were unable to hold the lead for long, with the Panthers answering back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three more runs. That put Georgia State on top for good and they held on to beat the Huskies by a score of 7-4.
Senior captain Kris Dabrowiecki started the game for Northeastern and dropped to 1-3 on the season after allowing nine hits and six runs in five innings of work. Sophomore reliever Sheldon McDonald pitched the final three innings of the game for the Huskies, allowing only one run.
For the Panthers, Robinson Polanco (5-1) pitched a complete game and was able to hold the Huskies while picking up a win.
In the second game, the Huskies hit a season high seven home runs en route to a 14-6 victory, evening the series. Lightning and rain in the area delayed the game for about an hour but the wetness did not seem to affect the Huskies as they tied the series.
Each of the first six hitters in the Northeastern lineup hit a long ball, including Compagnone who hit two that day.
In the third inning, the Huskies scored seven runs on the backs of junior left fielder Mike Tamsin and senior captain Josh Porter. For both players, it was their first home run of the season.
"We swung the bats well on both Friday and Saturday," said Huskies head coach Neil McPhee.
Other Huskies who homered on the day were Gustafson, shortstop Mike Lyon and catcher Tony Dicesare.
"They tried me out in the leadoff spot, which they did last year so I felt comfortable," Gustafson said. "Hitting is contagious. When one or two guys are doing well, we all have been able to hit."
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