It was a weird weekend Boston for Towson, as the Tigers dealt with rainy conditions, last minute rotation changes, and deep, talented Northeastern batting lineup. Looking back, the first two games of the series will almost certainly be considered the low point of the season, as many of the incremental improvements the team has made took steps back and they were drubbed by a combined score of 45-8. At least they got the two point conversion. But, in the face of that adversity, this Tiger team showed resilience, and some great pitching, and nearly pulled out a win in the finale, before falling 2-1. As I’ve written before, they don’t count moral victories in the standings, but they do show something about the fabric of a team. It was a game they could have easily turned tail, but the Towson competed instead. It’s a brick that might be a little chipped, but you can still add it to the wall.
Positive Pixels
- For me at least, the best thing that came out of this weekend was the Northeastern video stream. It’s the first one that I’ve seen this year with a camera angle behind the pitcher and it gave a great look at pitch movement and location. The quality was also excellent, plus the NU team offered multiple replays. Even their announcers did a great job. I was very impressed. I was able to get a lot of screen captures that I’m in the process of converting to GIFs and will use them when I start doing some features on individual players (soon, I promise).
- Alex Cuas and Gavin Weyman were both outstanding on Sunday, combining for eight innings and allowing only one earned run (two overall). Cuas had a 3.38 earned run average over 16 innings in April and lowered his season ERA by nearly four and a half runs. He gets great movement on his pitches and, when he keeps them around the plate, he generates a lot of ugly swings. Of course, that movement can also lead to bouts of wildness. If he can keep improving his consistency this last month of the season, Cuas could set himself up for a big senior season next year.
- Weyman was also outstanding in the month of April. Pitching exclusively in relief (though often in a multiple-inning piggyback role), the junior allowed four earned runs in 15 innings, good for a 2.40 ERA. He struck out 20 in those 15 innings, versus seven walks. Weyman, from Bridgewater, MA, looked great in his hometown on Sunday, striking out five in three scoreless innings. Weyman and Cuas should be major cogs in Towson’s pitching staff next year.
- Another pitcher who was great in April was Mason Anderson. He didn’t pitch at all from March 30 until April 18, but in the last two weeks he’s appeared in three games and gone 8.1 shutout innings with a 0.86 WHIP.
- Billy Lennox was Towson’s best hitter in April. After an 0-4 day on April 1st, Lennox was on base in every other game in the month, most of it part of a 15 game hitting streak that raised his batting average over a hundred points. That streak ended Sunday, but he still walked twice and drove in a run. Saturday he put up a valiant effort on offense, going 2-4, including a double and triple, with a walk and three RBI.
The Watch List
Richie Palacios, SS – .342↓/.475↓/.589↓, 158 AB, 46 R, 15 2B, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 20-21 SB. Palacios slowed a bit towards the end of the month, seeing his batting average drop nearly 30 points over the last ten days, though he did ready base six times this weekend with at least one walk in each game. The shortstop only struck out twice the entire month of April, while walking 15 times. He has also tightened up the defense, committing only a single error in his last 15 games.
Dirk Masters, 2B – .270↓/.407↓/.290↓, 100 AB, 15 R, 7 RBI, 3-3 SB. The second baseman did not get a hit this weekend, but did walk three times and got a couple of starts in the lead-off position, which I think suits him well. Masters continues to be excellent with the glove, recording a single error in April. He only struck out eight times the entire month, versus a dozen each walks and hits.
David Marriggi, P – 3-5, 4.34 ERA↓, 64.1 IP, 33 BB, 55 K. Marriggi and Adams both had their starts moved up a day at the last minute; whether or not that played a factor, both of Towson’s top starters had issues with the Northeastern University hitters. Marriggi allowed a lead-off home run, then shut down the Huskies for four innings, until things began to unravel in the fifth. It was the third time this season the senior left-hander has allowed six or more earned runs in a start and he has rebounded strongly each time. Hopefully we will see that trend continue.
Michael Adams, P – 3-5, 5.20 ERA↓, 62.1 IP, 23 BB, 68 K. I did not get to see any of Saturday’s game, so I’m not sure what went wrong, though it was apparently everything. Recording only one out, Adams allowed nine baserunners (six hits, two walks, and a hit batter) and every one of them scored in the opening frame. For the first time all season, the big right-hander did not record a single strikeout. All we can hope is that there wasn’t a physical issue and that Adams can get things going in the right direction in his next start.
Up Next
Towson has a busy week, playing two weekday games before a three-game weekend set against the College of Charleston. All five games are at Schuerholz Park, starting today at 3 p.m. as the Tigers welcome George Washington University.
Musical Finale
It’s always darkest before the dawn.
