By Jon Mettus
July 7, 2015
COTUIT — When starting pitcher Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech) was removed after seven scoreless innings, Jack Anderson (Penn State) trotted out from the bullpen.
A day earlier, Anderson had pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief at Bourne, giving up zero runs and one hit to earn the win. Now, he was back on the mound already.
Despite pitching 3 1/3 innings on Monday, Jack Anderson came back on the mound in Tuesday’s game. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
“He said he wanted to pitch,” head coach Mike Roberts said. “I said, ‘Well, you did a great job yesterday. Let’s try it again.’”
Anderson is a submarine pitcher, nearly scraping his knuckles in the dirt when he pitches, and he attributes that style to why his arm doesn’t get sore and he’s able to pitch in consecutive days.
“I don’t really ever get sore just because of the way I throw and I really like it that way,” Anderson said. “I just told (Roberts) I was available and he ended up using me.”
He got the first batter to ground out to first, but the next one singled on a grounder down the third base line. The Gatemen moved the runner into scoring position on a bunt, but Anderson got out of the threatening situation with a pop out to second.
Anderson came back out to start the ninth — a gut decision by Roberts — but allowed a hit on a slow ground ball that dribbled to third. Roberts took Anderson out in favor of his closer, Justin Dunn (Boston College). Dunn allowed the inherited runner to score before ultimately completing the save.
“I felt great,” Anderson said. “I was throwing my fastball really well. Slider was moving how I wanted it.”
Anderson’s final stat line was two hits, one run and no walks allowed in 1-plus innings. He picked up a hold for his efforts.
PETERSON LEAVES GAME AFTER HIT BY PITCH
In the bottom of the second, Kort Peterson (UCLA) took a fastball from Ben Parr (Georgia Tech) high and in tight. Peterson spun out of the batter’s box, still in his dodging motion after bringing his hands near his face for protection, and jogged to first base immediately.
Kort Peterson had to leave the game after being hit with a pitch in the second inning. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
“Did it hit helmet?” Roberts asked the home plate umpire.
But trainer Craig Moody’s examination of Peterson at first base lasted only a few seconds before the pair started walking back toward the dugout. Moody held Peterson’s hand out to show Roberts before the two exited.
“We’ll wait and see,” Roberts said after the game. “He’s at the emergency room and we’ll see what happened.”
Brett Stephens (UCLA), who was originally supposed to get the day off, came in to pinch run. He went 0-for-2 in replacement of Peterson.
KENDALL ARRIVES IN COTUIT
One of the most anticipated players for Cotuit this season is finally here. Outfielder Jeren Kendall (Vanderbilt) arrived during the tail end of Tuesday night’s win.
After the game, Roberts introduced him to the team and had him say a few words about himself in the postgame huddle.
“He’ll be ready to go tomorrow and that will really help us,” Roberts said.
Kendall, a freshman, is coming off a College World Series run in which Vanderbilt lost in the championship to Virginia. Kendall hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth against Cal State Fullerton to advance Vanderbilt in the CWS.
It was the first walk-off home run in College World Series games held at TD Ameritrade Park. Kendall batted .281 with 52 hits and 40 runs batted in at Vanderbilt this year.