Tietjen’s Slugging Leads Grays Over Giants

​6/12/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

The Grays scored six runs last night in their game against the Gaithersburg Giants, and Joe Tietjen (UNC-Asheville) had a hand in all of them. Colin Kelly (Catholic University) pitched six clean innings for his first win of the season — a 6-0 victory for the Grays.  The team moved to 4-3 for the young season with its third straight win.

Tietjen was the offensive star.  In the second inning, he singled on the first pitch. After going to second on a wild pitch and making it to third on Austen Maggin’s (Lafayette) groudout, he scored on a single by Max Geller (Florida Tech).

Tietjen’s second at bat, in the bottom of the fourth, looked much like the first—a single to get on base, and a wild pitch allowing him to take second. This time, however, it was Maggin who drove him home with a double.

The shining moment for Tietjen, however, came in the bottom of the fifth. After Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) was hit by a pitch, Eric Urry (Brigham Young) was intentionally walked, and Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) was unintentionally walked, Tietjen delivered once again.  His long drive sailed over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead.

Kelly was sharp on the hill, striking out seven batters while only allowing three hits. He was relieved by Sherman Graves (Savannah State), who pitched the scoreless seventh, and Ari Kaufman (Lafayette), who pitched two scoreless innings of his own.  The Giants attempted a rally with runners on first and second with one out, but after a diving stop by Geller, he, second baseman David Kimbrough (Delaware State), and first baseman Bobo pulled off a double play.

Tonight, the Grays will travel to Glen Burnie to face Youse’s Orioles. This is their second meeting this season. In the last game, the Grays beat the Orioles 4-2. Harry Thomas (Delaware State) is expected to take the mound for the Grays.