TOWSON, Md. - The 2011-12 school year was one filled with memories and highlights for the Tiger athletics. The Top Ten Moments from 2011-12 contains some individual highlights in addition to those involving the teams. Make sure to check back each Tuesday and Thursday to see what moments made it.
In sports, the cliché is often used, "It's not over till the fat lady sings." The final weekend of the regular season, the Tiger baseball team kept the fat lady bottled up till the last possible minute. That is the No. 8 moment on the Top Ten Moments from the 2011-12 school year.
The Tigers had a series with James Madison on the schedule for the final weekend of the regular season. It was the fourth time in the last five years that the Tigers entered the final weekend with a CAA playoff berth on the line. Entering the weekend tied with Georgia State for the sixth and final spot, the Tigers needed to win one more game then the Panthers, who held the tiebreaker with the Tigers.
In the first game of the series, the Tigers got a strong pitching performance from Michael Trionfo. Trionfo went eight innings and surrendered just two runs in the 8-3 victory. The win was Trionfo's ninth of the season, tying the single-season wins record at Towson. At the plate, Kurt Wertz went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a double and a home run.
In game two, the Tigers needed 1.2 innings of solid relief from Tyler Austin to secure the 11-10 victory over James Madison. The game featured three ties and three lead changes as the Tigers got a crucial run in the bottom of the eighth. Ben Winter had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth that scored Brendan Butler with what proved to be a pivotal run as James Madison scored one in the top of the ninth.
The Tigers entered the final game of series in control of their own destiny. A win guaranteed a spot in the CAA Tournament while a loss would have left the Tigers waiting to see what Georgia State and other teams did.
The final game of the series proved to be special for the Tigers. Prior to the game, the Tigers honored their four seniors playing in their final home game. Then with the fat lady warming up, the game began.
In a game that was a battle from the start, the Tigers found themselves trailing 4-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth. Kurtis Voytell lifted a one-out pinch-hit home run to left center to tie the game. After Trionfo retired the Dukes in order in the top of the tenth, the Tigers went to work in the bottom of the frame. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out for Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald lined a 1-0 pitch over the third baseman's head to score Wertz with the game-winning run.
The run gave the Tigers a 5-4 victory and the three-game sweep sent the Tigers back to the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.
Check back on June 21 for the No. 7 moment on the countdown.
The Top 10 Moments From 2011-12
June 7 - Honorable Mention Selections
June 12 - No. 10 - Lingmai's No-Hitter
June 14 - No. 9 - Men's Basketball Losing Streak Ends
June 19 - No. 8 - Baseball sweeps James Madison
