Baseball Release #1

Feb. 26, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Horizon League Player of the Week

Zach Rodeghero, Valparaiso
Senior DH * New Lenox, Ill.
Rodeghero posted a .727 batting average and .813 on-base percentage in leading the Crusaders to a series victory over Austin Peay. He had eight hits including two doubles, scored six runs and drove in three during the three-game set. The fifth-year senior tied a career high with four hits in a 4-for-5 effort in the series finale, following a three-hit performance in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.

Horizon League Pitcher of the Week

Brian Long, Cleveland State
Junior RHP * Pittsburgh, Pa.
Long led the Vikings past 23rd-ranked Louisville in the series finale on Sunday, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits in eight innings. He struck out a career-best nine batters with only one walk to earn his first victory since the 2006 season.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending February 24
Brad Buell, Cleveland State
Jr. * CF * Martin, Mich.
Buell batted .545 in three games at Louisville, with a double, a home run and three runs scored. He was 4-for-5 in Sunday's finale, leading CSU to an 8-5 victory over the 23rd-ranked Cardinals.

Josh Groves, Milwaukee
Jr. * 3B * Monona, Wis.
Groves had five hits in ten at-bats, driving in five runs. He homered twice in Friday's season-opening loss to Jacksonville and hit safely in all three contests.

Steve McGuiggan, UIC
Fr. * CF * Burnsville, Minn.
McGuiggan had three hits in ten at-bats with one run scored in three contests against Tulane in his first collegiate action. He had a two-run triple in the series finale on Sunday.

Justin Parker, Wright State
Jr. * SS * Fort Wayne, Ind.
Parker hit safely in all three games at Arkansas, going 3-for-8 with three RBI against the Razorbacks. He also scored a run and stole a base while posting a .545 on-base percentage.

Sean Lucas, Youngstown State
Sr. * 3B * Warren, Ohio
Lucas went three-for-ten against #25 Georgia Tech, including a 2-for-3 effort on Sunday. He also was perfect in seven chances at third base in his first action at the position since high school.

Craig Meier, Milwaukee
Jr. * RHP * Madison, Wis.
A last-minute replacement on Sunday, Meier scattered six hits over 6.2 innings to lead Milwaukee to a 5-2 victory over Richmond. He allowed two runs and struck out six Spider hitters.

Derrick Miramontes, UIC
Jr. * RHP * Durham, Calif.
Miramontes scattered five hits in six innings versus Tulane on Saturday. He allowed three runs in his UIC debut as the Flames fell 4-3 on an unearned run in the eighth inning.

Derek Smith, Valparaiso
Jr. * RHP * Kokomo, Ind.
Smith pitched 4.1 innings of no-hit relief Friday, earning the victory in Valpo's 15-6 triumph over Austin Peay. He allowed only one base-runner in his first action of the season.

Michael Meintel, Wright State
Fr. * RHP * Shadyside, Ohio
Meintel allowed one run on three hits over five innings in his colllegiate debut at Arkansas. He struck out three batters, walked one and was not involved in the decision.

Aaron Swenson, Youngstown State
So. * RHP * Twinsburg, Ohio
Swenson yielded one run on five hits over seven innings versus #25 Georgia Tech on Sunday. He struck out four batters, with the lone run coming on a solo homer in the second inning.

Around the Horizon League

Crusaders win season's first series
Valparaiso opened the 2008 campaign by taking two of three games at Austin Peay last weekend. The Crusaders won the rubber game on Sunday (11-5) after the teams split a twinbill on Saturday---Valpo winning the opener 15-6 but falling 12-4 in the nightcap.

Senior DH Zach Rodeghero led the way with eight hits in 11 at-bats, six runs scored and three RBI, while freshman infielder Andrew Quinnette added five hits in seven at-bats including a 3-for-3 effort on Sunday. Sophomore infielder Brett Bivens drove in six runs, including four in Saturday's first game.

Six players had at least three hits in the opening weekend, with Valparaiso batting .321 as a team and scoring 30 runs during the three-game series. Valpo posted a .273 average last season.

The Crusader bullpen allowed only one run in 5.2 innings in Saturday's opener and turned in an identical performance in Sunday's contest to secure the two victories. Junior right-hander Derek Smith was the winning pitcher Satuday with 4.1 innings of hitless relief, while freshman right-hander Jarad Miller's 3.2-inning stint garnered the decision on Sunday.

Valpo returns to Austin Peay this weekend, meeting APSU on Friday before neutral-site games against Illinois State on Saturday and Indiana on Sunday.

Vikings defeat top-25 team
Cleveland State stands at 1-2 after capturing the finale of a three-game series at Louisville on Sunday. The Vikings dropped the first two games 13-5 (Friday) and 4-2 (Saturday) but posted an 8-5 victory over a Cardinal squad that had been ranked 23rd in the nation by Baseball America.

Junior right-hander Brian Long limited Louisville to four runs (two earned) and nine hits over eight innings, striking out a career-high eight batters while walking only one to earn his first victory since 2006.

Senior right-hander Vasili Pahoulis earned his first collegiate save by retiring three consecutive batters with the tying runs on base. Pahoulis spent his first three seasons as an outfielder before taking over the closer's role this spring.

Junior outfielder Brad Buell led the Viking offense with six hits and three runs scored. He was 4-for-5 and crossed the plate twice in Sunday's victory after a 2-for-4 night with a home run in the first game on Saturday.

Freshman outfielder Adam Heideman had three hits with a double and a run scored in Saturday's first game before being sidelined by an injury.

Cleveland State opens a three-game series at Charlotte on Friday afternoon. The set also includes matinees against the 49ers on Saturday and Sunday.

Panthers salvage final game in Florida
Milwaukee posted a 1-2 record in three games at Jacksonville, Fla., losing to the host Dolphins 20-8 on Friday and falling 6-3 to UNC Wilmington on Saturday before defeating Richmond 5-2 in the weekend finale.

Junior third baseman Josh Groves became the first Panther to homer twice in a season-opener, clearing the fence twice and driving in three runs against JU.. Groves also had two RBI Sunday and posted a 1.200 slugging percentage with his 5-for-10 performance at the plate.

Groves and junior outfielder Nick Wichser each hit safely in all three games, extending hitting streaks to 19 dating to last season. Wichser was 4-for-11 with two runs scored and two RBI in the first weekend of the season.

Junior outfielder Ben Long registered five hits in 12 at-bats as one of five Panthers with at least three safeties. Junior first baseman Shawn Wozniak and senior second baseman Jesse Hart both had three.

Junior right-hander Brad Lusti pitched 5.1 innings of relief Saturday, allowing only an unearned run on five hits against UNC Wilmington.

Milwaukee plays its first 27 games of the season away from home. That set continues when Panthers head west this weekend for a three-game series at Saint Mary's (Calif.). The teams play single games Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Flames drop three at Tulane
UIC was swept in a three-game weekend set at Tulane, losing the opener 6-0 on Friday and Sunday's finale 9-2. The Flames led twice in the middle game on Saturday, only to fall 4-3 on an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The opening-day lineup on Friday featured six position players making their first Division I starts. UIC also had two starting pitchers make their Division I debuts over the weekend,

One of those first-timers, junior right-hander Derrick Miramontes, allowed three runs on five hits over six innings in a no-decision Saturday.

Six UIC relievers---including five underclassmen---combined for a 1.08 earned-run average, yielding only one earned run in 8.1 innings. Sophomore left-hander Chris Kovacevich tossed three of those frames, with freshman right-handers Peter Ifft and Mike Bjerke, freshman southpaw Eric Wyman, sophomore lefty Don Phillis and junior right-hander Adam Worthington each adding at least one inning.

The Flames posted a .227 batting average as a team.

UIC travels to Waco, Texas, for this weekend's QTI Baylor Classic. The Flames face Stephen F. Austin on Friday afternoon before meeting the host school on Saturday night. The trip concludes Sunday morning when UIC meets Illinois.

Raiders come up empty in Arkansas
Wright State also went 0-3 for the weekend in its trip to Arkansas. The Raiders opened the season with a 9-4 loss on Friday before a 5-4 setback on Saturday and a 7-3 defeat Sunday.

Junior shortstop Justin Parker needs two more doubles to move into the Raiders' all-time top ten in that department. Parker's 3-for-8 week included the 36th two-bagger of his career. Parker had three RBI in the series and hit safely in all three contests.

Freshman right-hander Michael Meintel made an auspicious collegiate debut Sunday, allowing one run on three hits in five innings. Meintel fanned three batters with only one base on balls. Fellow freshman Michael Woytek and sophomore lefty Bryce DeWeese also made their first career starts on the mound for WSU, combining with Meintel for a 3.85 ERA in 14 innings of work.

Wright State hit just .183 as a team in the three games. The Raiders led the League with a .316 mark last season, but junior first baseman Jeremy Hamilton had only one at-bat last weekend.

Wright State needs two victories to reach the 1,000 mark in the program's 38-year history. The Raiders could reach that milestone during a three-game weekend series at Washington State, meeting the Cougars on Friday night, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Penguins left out in the cold
Youngstown State dropped three games at #25 Georgia Tech, including a 1-0 defeat on Saturday when the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate to end the game. YSU was also shut out (14-0) on Friday and suffered a 5-1 defeat on Sunday.Sophomore right-hander Aaron Swenson was a tough-luck loser on Saturday, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out seven batters over seven innings. A second-inning homer was the difference in that game. Senior right-hander Adam Kalafos followed Swenson's lead Sunday, allowing only an unearned run on four hits while fanning five in five innings.

Freshman Joe Iacobucci started all three games in left field, going 3-for-9 for the weekend. Freshman shortstop David Leon also went 3-for-9 in his first collegiate action, while senior infielder Josh Page had a team-best four hits in 12 at-bats.

YSU posted a .194 team batting average, with junior outfielder John Koehnlein logging only one hit in 12 at-bats. Koehnlein batted .434 last season and ended the year with a 12-game hitting streak.

Youngstown State faces Pittsburgh in a three-game weekend series at Chillicothe, Ohio. The schedule features a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday.