Saturday, March 03, 2007

ROCK HILL, S.C. (Mar. 3, 2007) - The Buccaneer bats finally came alive Saturday afternoon, and senior Caleb Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.) dominated the Temple offense for seven scoreless innings, as ETSU dismantled the Owls 12-0 at the Coca-Cola Classic, notching back-to-back shutouts of Division I opponents for the first time since 1981.

After struggling offensively for the first month of the season, ETSU pounded out 12 runs on 14 hits, and converted the majority of its opportunities, stranding only five runners and posting runs in four of the five innings runners reached scoring position.

The Bucs (9-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, plating their first run on senior Justin Aughey's (Davie, Fla.) sacrifice fly, scoring sophomore Troy Mendez (Roswell, Ga.).  Senior C.J. Lee (Bristol, Va.) came home with the second ETSU run when sophomore Ben Allen (Kingsport, Tenn.) reached on an error.

Glafenhein (4-0) made sure two runs were plenty, allowing only three runners past first base while scattering five hits and striking out three in his seven innings of work.  Tom Dolan gave up five runs, only three earned, in his six innings of work, falling to 1-1.

Leading 5-0 in the seventh, the Bucs broke the game open with four runs, highlighted by junior Anthony Russell's (Waldorf, Md.) bases-loaded, base clearing double to left field.  Senior Michael Courtney (Knoxville, Tenn.) drove Russell home with a single later in the inning.

The Bucs pitching staff has thrown 20-consecutive scoreless innings, the most since the 1992 squad notched three consecutive shutouts.  Combining with Glafenhein in the streak have been senior Tony Lombardi (Windsor, Calif.), juniors Brandon Langston (Ringgold, Ga.), Jimmy Tidwell (Acworth, Ga.) and Matt McGahey (Jonesborough, Tenn.) and sophomore Darren Caldwell (Spartanburg, S.C.).