April 6, 2002

MIDDLEBURY, VT – The Amherst College baseball team came within a half inning of sweeping a NESCAC West Division doubleheader at Middlebury College on Saturday. However, after winning the opener 8-1 behind a complete-game pitching performance by senior Dave Krauser (Short Hills, NJ), the Jeffs coughed up a one-run lead in the ninth inning in the nightcap, as Middlebury's Neil Higgins singled in the winning run for a 6-5 Panther victory. 

Krauser dominated game-one. After allowing a run in the first inning, the senior right-hander scattered seven hits with five strikeouts, improving his pitching record to 3-1. Sophomore third baseman Matt Potter (Durham, NC), who entered the weekend with a conference-best .500 batting average, paced the Jeffs offensively with three hits, including a two-run double in the fifth inning. Senior second baseman John Brody (Baltimore, MD) added a pair of singles and two RBI's. 

Juniors John Schneider (Grand Rapids, MI), Joe Katuska (Southboro, MA) and sophomore Paul Whiting (Mission Viejo, CA) each homered for Amherst in game-two, but Middlebury starter Russ Budnick persevered for a complete-game victory, holding the Jeffs hitless over the final six innings. Nevertheless, Amherst took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning, but the Panthers knotted the score on a groundout by Abe Streep, setting the stage for Higgins' game-winning heroics. 

Potter added another two hits for Amherst in the nightcap. Sophomore hurler Duncan Webb (Lynn, MA) took the loss after relieving junior starter Jonah Ansell (Oak Park, IL) in the fifth inning. 

With the split, Amherst moved to 8-10 overall and 1-4 in division play. Middlebury upped its record to 5-7 and 2-3 in the NESCAC. The Panthers and Jeffs wrap up the weekend's three-game set Sunday at Noon. 

Click HERE for full game-one box score... 

Click HERE for full game-two box score...