WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Dickinson baseball team concluded a very successful Florida trip on Friday by posting a doubleheader sweep of Gwynedd Mercy University at Chain of Lakes Park. The Red and White opened the day with a 7-3 triumph, before picking up a 9-2 win in game two.
Game One
Final Score - DEVILS 7, Griffins 3 (F/7)
Team Records - DEVILS (9-5) | Gwynedd Mercy (6-5)
Pitching Decision - W -
Ben Myers (1-1) | L - Connor Hafto (2-1)
Inside the Game
- After a scoreless first, Kyle Bailey opened the second with a knock to center and then moved up 90-feet on a passed ball. Luke Gartland advanced the runner another base, before another passed ball let him cross. Ethan Sodl and Freeman Hunt were then setdown to prevent any further damage. However, a walk and double in the home-half allowed the GMU to get level right away at 1-1 heading to the third.
- Two hitters into the third the Devils were back on top with Josh Markley driving home Will Ferris thanks to an RBI single. The next man in was Shawn Arneja who picked up a base hit to put men on the corners. He was followed by a free pass to Kevin Schmidt which loaded the bags still with no one out. A sacrifice fly for Johnny Bruno, Bailey single and a fielder's choice from Gartland resulted in three more scoring to make it 5-1 enter the home-half. DC starter Ben Myers would surrender a hit batter with two gone, but then had him picked off on a throw down from the catcher retiring the side.
- In the top of the fourth, Ferris opened with a single prior to coming home three batters later when Kevin Schmidt provided an RBI double. A double and single for the Griffins chipped one off the deficit leaving the score 6-2 going to the fifth.
- The score would stay that way until the last of the sixth when with one gone Charlie Neal doubled which forced Myers out of the game and brought on Zander Leckszas. He issued a walk to Brady Belfus, before Karl Wissman was safe on an error to cut the deficit to just 6-3. Fortunately, the rookie settled down and got a flyout and groundout to retire the side.
- Dickinson made it 7-3 during the top of the seventh using a two-out single for Ferris to set the stage for Markley to provide the RBI. Leckszas then made quick work of GMU recording three consecutive flyouts to end the game.
Dickinson Hitting Leaders
- Hits - Ferris (3)
- RBIs - Markley (2)
- Runs Scored - Arneja, Bailey, Markley and Schmidt (1)
- Doubles - Schmidt (1)
Devils Mound Report
- Myers (W) - 5.1 ip, 3 runs (2 earned), 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
- Leckszas - 1.2 ip, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
Game Two
Final Score - DEVILS 9, Griffins 2
Team Records - DEVILS (10-5) | Gwynedd Mercy (6-6)
Pitching Decision -
Austin Buzza (3-0) | L - Ryan Kasper (0-2)
Inside the Game
- Pitching was the name of the game early as Austin Buzza and Ryan Kasper did not allow much over the first three innings as their were a combined two hits during that time.
- The top of the fourth saw the Griffins take a 1-0 lead when Deven Ross plated Charlie Neal with a triple. However, he would be left 90-feet away as Belfus popped up to third for the final out. In the bottom-half, Bruno drew a two-out walk allowing the next man Bailey to drive him home thanks to a double. He then came across the plate when the next batter Gartland deposited an RBI single giving DC a 2-1 edge through four.
- Buzza ran into some difficulty during the fifth, as a double, hit batter and walk loaded the pillows with two away. Once again though the pitching stayed strong with DeCarlo posting a groundout to retire the side. Singles off the bats of Schmidt and Bruno resulted in the Red and White adding another one making it 3-1 going to the sixth.
- Drew Norton replaced Buzza to open up the top of the sixth and allowed a double along with a stolen base to Neal, before a groundout by Belfus scored Neal leaving the gap at one (3-2). Dickinson then got their bats working as four consecutive singles for Sodl, Hunt, Ferris and Markley led to one coming home with the bags still loaded. Schmidt followed with a two-run double, before a walk to Bruno gave Bailey the ability to clear the bases with a two-bagger making it 9-2.
- Norton recorded a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to close out the win in the top of the seventh.
Dickinson Hitting Leaders
- Hits - Bailey, Markley and Schmidt (2)
- RBIs - Bailey (4), Bruno, Gartland, Markley and Schmidt (1)
- Runs Scored - Bruno (2), Seven players tied (1)
- Doubles - Bailey (2), Schmidt (1)
Devils Mound Report
- Buzza (W) - 5.0 ip, 1 run (earned), 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
- Norton - 2.0 ip, 1 run (earned), 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
The On-Deck Circle
- Dickinson (10-5) will crack open the 2026 home slate on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm when they welcome Shenandoah University to MacPhail Field.
