For Immediate Release: April 1, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU baseball splits twinbill at Central Connecticut, losing 12-8 before winning 10-1
Groh extends scoreless streak to 13 innings, improves to 2-0 with win in game 2

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Sophomore Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.) pitched six scoreless innings and Binghamton (9-7-1) backed him up with 10 runs to gain a doubleheader split at Central Connecticut State Saturday afteernoon at Balf-Savin Field. The Blue Devils took the opener, 12-8 before Binghamton rolled to the 10-1 win in the nightcap.

Groh (2-0) was dominant for the second straight start, shutting down CCSU on two hits over six innings with seven strikeouts. He allowed just one ball out of the infield - a sixth inning double - and extended his scoreless streak to 13 innings. Groh also lowered his team-leading earned run average to a miniscule 0.82 in four outings this spring.

Offensively, BU gave him ample support with three runs in the third inning, four in the fourth and two more in the fifth frame. Each team scored in the seventh inning to complete the scoring.

Junior second baseman Matt Simek (Vestal, N.Y.,) went 3-for-4 with four RBI and junior shortstop Justin Smucker (Bird-in-Hand, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Simek ripped a two-run double in the third inning and added a two-out, two-run double in the fourth.

In game one, CCSU roughed up BU ace Scott Diamond, striking for 11 runs in the fourth inning en route to the 12-8 win. The Blue Devils trailed 2-1 entering the frame, but sent 14 batters to the plate and collected seven hits to chase Diamond. Binghamton came back with two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth but could pull no closer.

Junior right fielder Jeff Monaco (Binghamton, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBI. Monaco extended his hitting streak to nine games before going 0-for-2 in game 2. Earlier in the game, he hit a two-run single. Monaco leads the team with a .429 average and 15 RBI.

The teams are scheduled to complete the three-game set with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.