Gaff snuffs out Trojans' quest for sweep at USF

Tues., April 22, 2008

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Chase Gaff is no doctor, but the University of Saint Francis junior had the remedy for what ailed the Cougars after a Game 1 11-0 loss to Taylor University.

Gaff only yielded four singles and fanned three in a quick 6-0 shutout in Game 2. The Cougars turned two double plays behind Gaff  and USF scored five runs in the second inning in support of Gaff.

Junior second-baseman Jon Saporsantos smashed a 2-run home run to left field, his third of the season. Austin Leisure added a run-scoring single and two more runs scored on a Travis Potchka ground out.

In the fifth, Jake Trahin stole home on a double-steal to boost the USF lead to 6-0.

"Sure one is batter than none," USF coach Greg Roberts told the team after Game 2, "but to make any real noise we've got to come ready to play. You don't have two chances to get a win in the post-season."

Bart Schnur was the starting pitcher in Game 1 for the Cougars, but he just battled through 5 1/3 innings, a frustrating outing yielding eight runs, seven earned, and seven hits. On offense all the Cougars managed was two hits.

"We've got to do a better job of maintaining our composure," Roberts said. "We got mad and just started flailin' away at the plate."

USF concludes play at Cougar Field on Wed., April 23, with a twin bill against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member Purdue-North Central at 2 p.m.