Team News

Date: Aug 10, 2009

'Bats Take Two in Season-Ending Twinbill

The Beetles and River Bats played two nine-inning games on Monday in St. Cloud, with the home club posting late rallies in each contest to earn a doubleheader sweep of the Beetles.  The 'Bats needed eleven innings to knock off their I-94 rivals in game one, winning 4-3.  In the nightcap, a three-run eight pushed the 'Bats past the Beetles 5-4.

Game one: 

In his final start as a Beetle, Austen Siwiec (Valparaiso) went six innings allowing just one run, while third-year Beetle Keith Castillo (USC) paced the offense with a two-run homer in the second inning.

However, in the seventh with the lead at 3-1, Siwiec ran into problems, giving up a one-out walk, single and wild pitch to bring in a run.  Kevin Vangheluwe (Michigan) relieved and gave up a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases in a 3-3 ballgame, before getting a strikeout to end the inning.

Both clubs would struggle to push runners into scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings.  And in the tenth, each team went down quietly.

Finally in the eleventh inning, with another nine-inning game looming, a two-out walk issued by Matt Fyffe (E. Kentucky) brought Post-season All-Star Jonathan Roof (Michigan State) to the plate.  Roof delivered, finishing a 4-6 day at the plate with a walk-off double to right field.  Fyffe took the loss, finishing with a 2-5 record.

Game Two:

In the nightcap, Alexandria had an early chance to put the game on ice, loading the bases with nobody out in the first.  Matt Summers (UC-Irvine) would recover though, surrendering an RBI single to Jayson Langfels (E. Kentucky) while striking out the side to keep the damage to a minimum.

St. Cloud would answer against Bryce Uhrig (Pepperdine) in the home half of the third.  A leadoff walk, Marcus Semien (Cal-Berkeley) error and Roof single brought in a run, and a Uhrig balk with runners on the corners gave the 'Bats their first lead of the game.

At 2-1, the Beetles had one more response.  Tim Roberson led off the frame with a single, and Castillo hit his second homer of the day in the next at-bat, pushing the Beetles back in front at 3-2.  One more run would score on a Semien fielder's choice, extending the lead to 4-2.

Uhrig left after seven innings, retiring the last eleven batters he faced.

In the eighth, Tyler McKendree (Flagler) entered one final time and gave up a walk and single to put runners at second and third with nobody out.  Matt Miller (Michigan) was set to relieve, but was left off the lineup card and ruled ineligible.  Chase Porch (North Alabama) then came in from left field to pitch and was roughed up.  Porch hit the first batter he faced, walked the next to bring in a run and gave up a two-RBI single to Zac Richard (Xavier) to cap the 'Bats comeback.

The Beetles then went down in order in the ninth, ending the game. 

Alexandria finishes the season with an overall record of 38-30, the fifth best mark in the League.

Post-season honors were also awarded on Monday, and Junior right-hander Mitch Handley was named to the Post-Season All-Star team.  Mitch finished his 2009 campaign with a 6-1 record, and an 1.47 ERA, second best in franchise history.  His twelve starts also ties a team single-season record, and his 85.2 innings of work leads the league and is also a team record.

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