KEYSER, W.Va. — WVU Potomac State College swept a doubleheader against area foe Garrett College on Wednesday, taking game one 3-0 and game two 16-8.
“Two good games, anytime we play Garrett, they’re always good games,” PSC head coach Doug Little said. “Garrett is always a solid team, well coached and always good to play.”
In the first game, Cooper Polcovich went the distance for the Catamounts (10-9, 3-1 NJCAA Region 20).
He threw a complete game shutout, only allowing one hit.
“It all started on the mound with him,” Little said. “We were able to play good defense behind him.”
Ammon Sanchez recorded the lone hit for the Lakers (10-15, 4-6 Region 20) with a leadoff single in the third inning.
Potomac State scored a pair of runs in the first inning on a Jimmy Sadler RBI double and a sac fly RBI from Maddox Brooks.
Nik Rubendall made it 3-0 in the third inning on an RBI single.
Sadler and Chris Harbert each had two hits for the Catamounts who combined for six.
Cooper Blackburn went six innings for Garrett, allowing six hits, three runs and a walk with one strikeout.
“Both pitchers threw the ball extremely well,” Garrett head coach Eric Hallenbeck said. “I was happy with the way Blackburn threw the ball.”
While pitching and defense was the story of game one, it was all about the bats in game two.
The Lakers and Catamounts combined for 24 runs and 31 hits.
Garrett led off the second inning with three straight hits to load the bases.
Northern Garrett graduate Chance Ritchey hit a double to deep center, driving in two runs to put the Lakers up.
Another former Husky, Easton Rhoten, was up two batters later. He hit a chopper back to the pitcher for an RBI infield single.
Jonathan Padgett added another run on a bunt groundout, putting the Lakers up 4-0.
“We laid a bunt down and they didn’t execute their defense,” Hallenbeck said. “We had guys come up with key hits.”
Potomac State answered in the bottom of the second, also loading the bases with three singles.
Sadler went opposite field to left for an RBI base hit and the runner at second was tagged out at home.
In the bottom of the third, the Catamounts once again loaded the bases.
After a walk by Southern Garrett graduate Tanner Haskiell, a balk drove in a run, cutting Potomac State’s deficit to 4-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cam Cole took first on a leadoff walk.
He stole second, followed by a Sadler single to right.
Rubendall drove them home on a two-run double deep to right, tying the game at 4.
With two on and one out, Bryce Suters gave the Catamounts a 5-4 lead on a base hit to shallow center.
The next at-bat, Suters was picked off at second, but Reilly Bubb scored from third.
“We started making the pitcher work a little more, start throwing strikes,” Little said. “Their couple kids came in and had trouble throwing strikes consistently. When they did, we were sitting on the pitch because they were behind on the count.”
Garrett answered in the top of the fifth. Padgett drew a walk and stole second before Collin Reed singled to right, putting Padgett on third.
Steven Laurence hit a line drive that deflected off Haskiell’s glove. It was ruled a fielding error and scored a run, cutting the Lakers deficit to 6-5.
Tristan Kenzevich was next up and found the gap in right center for an RBI double to tie the score at 6.
Haskiell led off the bottom of the sixth sending a line drive over a leaping Sanchez into left for a hit.
Back-to-back wild pitches put Haskiell on third, setting up Kris Sutton for a sac fly RBI to even the score at 7.
The bottom of the sixth is when everything changed.
Rubendall, Brooks and Bubb each singled to load the bases with no outs.
Suters then drew a walk to give Potomac State the lead, 8-7.
After a strikeout, Haskiell took first on a fielding error by Laurence that scored a run.
On a full count, Sutton hit a line drive past third for an RBI single.
“It gives you confidence, hope it’s something we can build on,” Little said of the offensive success.
A wild pitch advanced the runners and scored a run.
Cole walked, then Sadler drove in pair on a single to center.
“If we get behind on a team like Potomac State and they’re looking for one pitch, they’re not gonna miss it,” Hallenbeck said.
Sadler stole second and took third on an error as another run scored.
After batting around, Rubendall recorded his second hit of the inning on an RBI base hit.
Brooks also recorded a second hit in the inning on an RBI double to complete the scoring.
“Once it starts getting away from you, you can see it,” Hallenbeck said. “Sometimes it’s hard to stop.”
The Catamounts sent 15 to the plate, combining for eight hits and three walks.
Trailing 16-5 in the top of the seventh, Sanchez reached first on a two-out error by Sadler at shortstop which scored a run for Garrett.
Aidan VanRider went four innings for Potomac State, allowing 10 hits, six earned runs and a walk with three strikeouts.
Aidan Sites earned the win in three innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run with six punchouts.
All nine Catamounts recorded a hit. Sadler and Rubendall led with three and three RBIs.
Sadler finished the doubleheader with five hits and four RBIs.
“Today’s been one of his better days at the plate,” Little said. “That’s the Jimmy we’re used to.”
Rubendall combined for two hits and four RBIs across the two games.
Four other Catamounts recorded two hits each.
Brandon Metivier took the loss in four innings, allowing 10 hits, six runs and three walks with three strikeouts.
Tristan Kensevich and Dariel Walker led the Lakers with three hits while Sanchez added two.
Both teams play doubleheaders on Friday starting at 1 p.m.
Garrett heads to Hagerstown while Potomac State hosts Allegany.
“Allegany and Garrett, two good programs, we know we gotta play well to have a chance of beating those guys,” Little said. “It’s not going to be easy.”