Although it was the theme for most of the season, this year’s baseball team won’t be remembered for their lack of hitting.
In their two losses in Charlottesville, Va. this weekend, the Rebels scored 23 runs. The Diamond Rebs were criticized late in the season for not being consistent enough at the plate, yet they scored six runs off Virginia ace Danny Hultzen (10-1, 2.83 ERA) Saturday and 16 against St. John’s on Sunday.
In the end, the inability to keep the opposition off the base paths and scoreboard is what sent the Rebels home early.
Rebel ace Drew Pomeranz shut down the potent Red Storm lineup Friday night, only conceding two earned runs through seven-plus innings. By contrast, in the elimination game rematch, the Red Storm chased starter David Goforth out of the game before the first inning was over, putting an eight-spot on the board in frame one.
“You’ve got to give it to St. John’s—they were really swinging the bats well,” said Goforth.
“I made the situation worse by walking guys….When a team is swinging the bats like that you can’t afford to give those guys free base runners and put guys on like that.”
Goforth allowed seven earned runs and recorded only two outs, but that would have been OK if the Rebels could have stopped the bleeding. But the Red Storm scored 13 more runs off Trent Rothlin, Rory McKean and Brett Huber.
After Pomeranz left Friday’s game, Rebel opponents scored at least one run in 13 of 18 innings.
This should not be taken as an indictment against the pitching staff, as the Rebels faced two good lineups in Virginia and St. John’s. Headed into regional play, the Red Storm were No. 38 nationally in batting average, having posted a .327 mark during the regular season and conference tournament. The Cavaliers were at No. 25 batting .333 and No. 30 in runs scored with 477. Lineups such as these will give even the best pitching staffs headaches, but giving up 32 runs in 16 innings is unacceptable for any team hoping to make it to the next weekend.
Where did it go wrong?
Pomeranz was the sure thing all season long. With him on the mound, the Rebels have a chance to beat anybody. We’ve heard it and seen it before, and it’s a shame that his career as a Rebel has come to a close.
Aaron Barret has proven he has the stuff to beat a great lineup.
We saw him do it against Florida and Arkansas, but it was his inability to keep the ball down in the strike zone on a consistent basis that prevented him from taking the next step and being a sure-fire guy.
The debate over which of the two pitchers to start in game one may continue, but it should be noted that the argument opposing Pomeranz on Friday is irrelevant.
The Rebels would not have beaten either Virginia or St. John’s on Sunday, and that has nothing to do with Barret or Pomeranz.
While the merry-go-round was on display in both the top and bottom of most innings on the roomy Davenport Field, the Rebels could not stay within striking distance long enough to grab the lead, and the ping of the Red Storm bats ultimately won out against the Rebel arms.