2008 Woodie Awards
Team Getting Pitching, Timely Hitting
Winston Robinson: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports
The Mules baseball team has been a constant success.
They've won over 50 games in eight of the last nine seasons, won a championship in 2003 and are the winningest NCAA Division-II baseball school of the millennium.
The 2008 Mules, 17-5 this season, have not fallen far from the past by going 13-2 in their last 15 games, including a four game sweep of Washburn University last week.
"Each win was important, but sweeps are hard to come by," first year head coach Tom Myers said. "Four wins against one team, that made us feel real good about the weekend."
In the first doubleheader on Thursday, the Mules leaned on their pitching to get them the wins.
"They were very good," Myers said of his pitching staff. "Each guy we rolled out there did what they were supposed to do in the situation they came in. You can't ask for much more than throwing strikes and competing."
Senior pitcher Jared Potts tossed a complete-game shutout, while striking out 12 batters and walking two to earn the 4-0 victory. His record improved to 2-3.
The Mules earned three of their runs by playing small ball. In the second frame, the Mules scored off a sacrifice fly from senior right fielder Blaine Rutlidge and from a single by senior centerfielder Clay Weatherford.
The last two runs came from senior third baseman Iain Dykins, after he doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch, and senior shortstop Brian McBryde when scored on a sacrifice fly from Weatherford.
In the night game, the Mules needed twice the innings and almost four hours to defeat the Ichabods as the Mules used a wild pitch in the bottom of the 14th to squeak by 4-3.
The Mules also received help from their bullpen.
Sophomore pitchers Alex Kent and Nick Phillips combined to pitch the final 5.2 scoreless innings. They also combined for seven strikeouts.
The Mules almost lost it when Phillips allowed allowed the bases to become loaded in the top of the 14th. Even though he was in a jam, the team stayed cool.
They've won over 50 games in eight of the last nine seasons, won a championship in 2003 and are the winningest NCAA Division-II baseball school of the millennium.
The 2008 Mules, 17-5 this season, have not fallen far from the past by going 13-2 in their last 15 games, including a four game sweep of Washburn University last week.
"Each win was important, but sweeps are hard to come by," first year head coach Tom Myers said. "Four wins against one team, that made us feel real good about the weekend."
In the first doubleheader on Thursday, the Mules leaned on their pitching to get them the wins.
"They were very good," Myers said of his pitching staff. "Each guy we rolled out there did what they were supposed to do in the situation they came in. You can't ask for much more than throwing strikes and competing."
Senior pitcher Jared Potts tossed a complete-game shutout, while striking out 12 batters and walking two to earn the 4-0 victory. His record improved to 2-3.
The Mules earned three of their runs by playing small ball. In the second frame, the Mules scored off a sacrifice fly from senior right fielder Blaine Rutlidge and from a single by senior centerfielder Clay Weatherford.
The last two runs came from senior third baseman Iain Dykins, after he doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch, and senior shortstop Brian McBryde when scored on a sacrifice fly from Weatherford.
In the night game, the Mules needed twice the innings and almost four hours to defeat the Ichabods as the Mules used a wild pitch in the bottom of the 14th to squeak by 4-3.
The Mules also received help from their bullpen.
Sophomore pitchers Alex Kent and Nick Phillips combined to pitch the final 5.2 scoreless innings. They also combined for seven strikeouts.
The Mules almost lost it when Phillips allowed allowed the bases to become loaded in the top of the 14th. Even though he was in a jam, the team stayed cool.
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