Bats Stay Quiet in Baseball’s Season Opener, 3-1 Loss to Penn College

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – George Breslin's career-high outing on the hill was wasted as Suffolk baseball's bats never got going in the Rams' 76th debut, a 3-1 setback to Penn College Thursday night at Ebbets Field at the Ripken Experience. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Penn College 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Penn College (4-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's lone offensive output came when the game got going. Jonny Gilbride opened the outing with a single through the right side. He worked his way around the bases on a walk by Luke Harder, wild pitch and came in behind Marc Birbiglia's ground out to second. 

Breslin sauntered out of the dugout with a swagger and it showed when he struck out the Wildcats first batter with just three throws. The righty went on to retire the side in the first and second to keep the Rams' lead in-tact. 

In the third, Breslin sandwiched a pair of Ks around Penn College's first hit of the day. The senior captain lost his groove and walked in the tying run. With the bases chucked, he fanned Shane Price swinging to limit the damage. 

Despite the hiccup in the third that evened the playing field, Breslin went on to put together 3-up, 3-down innings in the next four innings.

The Wildcats started to figure Breslin out in the home half of the eighth. With a runner on third and one out, Jake Wagner brought the go-ahead run in with a hopping single to short that brought in Nathan Gustkey, who led off with a walk. Wagner went on to score an insurance run himself when Quinn Hanafin doubled to left center.   

Anthony Del Prete went to his bull pen and brought Jake Washock in to take over for Breslin. The Rams' reliever took care of business to keep the gap at two as the game headed to the top of the seventh. 

Down 3-1, Harry Painter got the inning going with a single to left field. An out later, Joe Ward reached on a catcher's interference to put the tying run on. Zac Weaver fanned Roberts, before Michael James Jr. flew out to the first baseman to end any comeback hopes for the Rams.   

PITCHERS PICTURES

• Breslin finished with a three-run, three-hit, four-walk, nine-strikeout effort in 7.1 innings.
• Washock served 0.2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief with one walk allowed.
• Weaver earned the decision for the Wildcats with 2.2 inning of scoreless relief. He let up one hit and struck out four.
• Justin Porter started on the bump for Penn College and gave up one run on two hits and two walks with nine Ks of his own.
• Cole Culver served 1.1 innings of scoreless, hitless work. He walked a pair of batters and sat down one. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Gilbride was responsible for 66.6% (2-3) of Suffolk's hits with a 2-for-4 effort. He scored the only run for the Rams.
• Birbiglia brought in Suffolk's only run.
• Painter pitched in one hit.
• Harder tallied two walks.

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk started its season at the Ripken Experience for the second straight season.
• The Rams faced Penn College for the first time.
• Breslin registered career numbers in innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (9) and faced 29 batters in one game for the second time in his collegiate career. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is scheduled to face Worcester State tomorrow, Friday, 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Polo Grounds as part of the Ripken Experience.