Not to call myself Nostradamus, but the last thing I wrote in the preview for this game was, “…the Tigers should have plenty of scoring opportunities if they are patient.”
Well, Towson went out and walked 15 times, as well as collecting seven hits and stealing five bases, en route to a 10-3 victory over the Bucknell Bisons. One second while I go and brush my shoulders off…
In all seriousness, this was a great win for Towson, their second in a row.
Positive Pixels
- Dean Stramara started the game and pitched the first two innings and allowing one run, raising his ERA to 3.49. I take full responsibility for jinxing him on that stat, but I doubt he is too bothered. Stramara got the win to move his record to 2-1 and avoided walking anyone for the sixth straight appearance. He struck out three batters, meaning he has struck out at least two for the eighth game in a row and moving his season K/BB ratio to a pretty nice 2.3/1. I don’t know how hard the righty throws, or exactly what pitches he has in his repetoire, but I know Stramara repeats his delivery beautifully on every pitch and pounds the strike zone. That’s a recipe for success.
- Colin Gimblet extended his latest hitting streak to six games and his on-base streak to nineteen. He walked twice, scored once, and drove in two. Keep rolling, young man.
- Returning to the lead-off spot must have felt good to Mark Grunberg, who responded with two hits and a walk. He scored twice and drove in three for the second consecutive game. The excellent defensive centerfielder has a four game hit streak of his own, walking in each of those games as well.
- Richard Miller left his last game after a scary play, getting hit in the head by a pitch in his first at bat on March 30. Miller played all nine in this one and got a hit, walked twice, and scored a run.
- Billy Lennox filled up the box score: one hit, one run, one RBI, three walks, and a stolen base. Lennox, who played third base in this game, has been very versatile defensively, also starting games in left field, right field, and second base this season.
- Andrew Cassard and Tristen Howerton each walked twice and scored a run, with Cassard adding a stolen base. It was only Cassard’s second stolen base of the year, but he has good speed; with his on-base ability, it would be a great skill for him to develop as his game matures.
- After a step back against Hofstra, Alex Cuas had perhaps his best performance of the year, with three shutout innings of one hit ball. He struck out three Bison players and only walked one.
- Gavin Weyman made his third straight appearance out of the bullpen, going three innings in this one. He worked around three hits and three walks to allow only one run. Three strikeouts aided his cause. No word on whether or not Towson ever followed him on Twitter.
- Matt Watters has now pitched a complete game’s worth of innings on the season and has only allowed two runs on four hits. His 13 walks are way high, but, to be fair, six of those came in the only game he allowed the other team to score. Watters, a red-shirt freshman, has only allowed four hits in 2018, a .143 batting average against.
The Watch List
Richie Palacios, SS – 1-4, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB. Another game, another full box score for the talented junior. Palacios is now 14 for 14 in stolen base attempts this year. Elite, indeed.
Dirk Masters, 2B – 1-5, 1 R, 1 SB. Masters somehow managed to be the only Tigers starter who did not record a walk, instead putting the ball in play all five times he came to bat. He came away with one hit, stealing a base and coming around to score a run, while – wait for it – playing a flawless game defensively. I know, shocker.
David Marriggi, P – DNP
Michael Adams, P – DNP
Up Next
Towson gets Coppin State tomorrow at Schuerholz Park, the game starts at 3:00 p.m. The Eagles are coming off a three game sweep of University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, but are only 11-15-1 on the year. I’ll have more on them tomorrow.
