LONDON, Ont. – The George Brown Huskies defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 2-1 in the first half of a home-opening doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Norm Aldridge Field.
Second basemen Marcus Herback came up huge for the Huskies after going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run, and a walk. While down one early in the game, centre fielder Ciaran O’Dowd ripped a base hit down the right field line and later stole second. After back-to-back strikeouts from Falcons starter Shawn Knelsen (0-1), it was Herback who hit an RBI single to tie this one up.
Nathan Long (1-0), who threw an impressive seven-inning, complete game, was on the mound for George Brown. He allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out two on 81 pitches.
The lone run Long allowed was early in the first inning, where Fanshawe first basemen Jamie Chopping-Lawlor hit a deep double to right field that scored Eric Martyn after he walked.
After a write-off second inning at the dish for the Falcons, they responded with a stellar defensive showing in the third. Nick Manoukarakis hit a leadoff single for George Brown, then Fanshawe turned a 6-4-3 double play before Knelsen would strikeout O’Dowd.
At the top of the fourth, Herback was the centre of attention again. He hit a deep double to centre and would later score on a wild pitch to put the Huskies up 2-1. The lead could have extended even more if it wasn’t for Knelsen picking off Brendan Nolet at first and Noah Case at second shortly after.
Knelsen’s afternoon was over after throwing 90 pitches in five innings and allowing five hits, two earned runs, and five walks while striking out four. Caleb Burleigh entered in relief for the remainder of the game.
There wasn’t much entertainment in such low-scoring action, however, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and a man on second for Fanshawe, O’Dowd made a tremendous diving catch in right-centre field to rob an RBI double that would have tied the game.
Fanshawe continues its homestand on Sunday with a doubleheader against Humber College.