TOWSON, Md. - Junior shortstop Nick Natoli banged out three base hits and drove in four runs as the Tigers (2-14) broke out of an early season batting slump by handing Mount St. Mary's (4-6) a 12-3 loss in the Tigers' home opener at John B. Schuerholz Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Natoli led the Tigers' 14-hit attack which included three doubles and two triples. He was one of three Tigers with three hits in the victory as senior rightfielder Kevin Collins had three hits while junior third baseman Austin Harclerode added three hits and scored three runs.
Playing their first home game after 15 consecutive road contests,, the Tigers snapped their 13-game losing streak. The Tigers also snapped The Mount's three-game winning streak.
Five Tiger pitchers backed up the offensive explosion by scattering seven hits.
After senior righthander Nate Curd threw two scoreless innings for the Tigers, The Mount broke through by scoring a two-out run off freshman lefthander Mike Ryan in third inning. With two outs, leftfielder Mike Matta singled through the right side. When shortstop Jacob Darr drew a walk on a full count, the Mounties had two runners on base. Junior designated hitter Kyle Kane gave Mount St. Mary's a 1-0 lead when he singled to left field. But Ryan struck out rightfielder Shane Eyler to end the threat.
Senior righthander Kent Worthington was The Mount's starting pitcher and he threw three hitless innings before sophomore lefthander Brady Feigl came in to relieve him in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Collins opened the Tigers' fourth inning with their first hit, an infield single to second base. When senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky followed with a single to right, the Tigers had two runners on base. Harclerode tied the game when he lined an RBI single to rightfield. Moments later, Natoli gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead when he doubled down the rightfield line to drive in two runs. But Feigl pitched out of the inning by retiring the next three hitters in a row.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigers broke the game open with a two-out rally. Collins started the uprising with a single to centerfield. After Yarsinsky drew a walk, Harclerode doubled to right center, scoring Collins to make it a 4-1 lead. Natoli followed with a two-run single to right center, giving the Tigers a 6-1 advantage. Junior second baseman Chris Wychock chased Natoli to third base with a double, putting two runners in scoring position. A single by freshman designated hitter Mike Schmidt drove in two more runs to make it an 8-1 lead.
Colin Stuver relieved Feigl and walked junior leftfielder Steve Rice. When Stuver hit freshman catcher Andrew Parker with a pitch, the bases were loaded again. A walk to sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter drove in the sixth run of the inning to give Towson a 9-1 lead. Stuver finally ended the rally by striking out Collins.
In the sixth inning, the Tigers extended their lead to 11-1. After Harclerode and Natoli hit back-to-back singles, Wychock belted a two-run triple to right center field, extending the Tigers' lead.
The Mount cut its deficit to 11-2 in the seventh inning by scoring a run with two outs. Matta drew a walk off freshman righthander Mike Volpe. Darr followed with a double to rightcenter, scoring Matta with The Mount's second run. However, Volpe pitched out of the inning by striking out Kane.
The Tigers came right back and added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Parker led off the inning with a triple to deep right centerfield. He scored Towson's 12th run when Collins singled to centerfield for his third hit of the game.
In the ninth inning, the Mounties closed out the scoring when pinch hitter Alex Andrews led off with a double and scored on an infield grounder by pinch hitter Sam Nott.
Darr was the top hitter for Mount St. Mary's. He went two-for-two with two walks. Kane added a pair of hits and drove in a run.
The Tigers' second pitcher of the game, Ryan earned the first win of his college career. He pitched two innings of relief and allowed one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Freshman righthander Mike Bronakoski also turned an effective two-inning performance. He threw two scoreless innings and did not allow a base hit. He walked one batter and struck out four. Volpe allowed one run on one hit in two innings. He struck out three hitters.
Wychock added two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers.
Towson opens its Colonial Athletic Association season this weekend with a three-game series at James Madison University.
