Urry’s blast leads Grays over Riverdogs

​6/10/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

It wasn’t easy, but the DC Grays got their third win of the season tonight, and Eric Urry (Brigham Young) was a big reason why. He had a home run and threw a runner out at the plate.

The Grays got themselves out of three bases loaded jams late in the game to beat the visiting Vienna Riverdogs 4-2. The Grays are now 3-3 on the season.

The Riverdogs (2-3) scored the first run of the game in the first inning, but in the bottom of the fourth, Urry ignited the home dugout with a drive over the right field fence. Aaron Tovsky (Davidson) and Brandon Chapman (George Washington) drove in Desmond Stegall (Grambling State) and Jay Graham (Dartmouth), respectively, for two more runs.

Andre Wilson (Grambling State) took over for starting pitcher Joe Kinee (West Chester) in the sixth, and soon found himself in a tight spot with the bases loaded and two outs. However, he was able to pick up a soft ground ball and flip it to catcher Chapman for a force out at home to end the inning. The Grays then scored another run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Sanders (University of Alabama-Huntsville) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, sending Tovsky home.

Graham relieved Wilson in the seventh, with the bases again loaded, this time with no outs. Urry then made the play of the game. After catching a fly ball for one out, he made a perfect throw from right field to home plate, where Chapman was able to tag the runner trying to score from third. Another fly ball and the Grays were out of the inning unscathed.

Graham was in a jam once again in the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and nobody out, but he and the Grays escaped the inning with minimal damage—one run.

Kinee got his first start and his first win of the season, pitching effectively into the sixth inning.  James Lengal (Brigham Young) came out in the ninth inning for the second night in a row to shut down the Riverdogs for the save.

Tonight, the Grays will travel to Herndon, VA to face the FCA Herndon Braves, who are also 3-3. Colin Kelly (Catholic University) will take the mound for the Grays.