McCarthy's Gem Powers Baseball by WMU, 11-2

Saturday, March 14

Port Charlotte, Fla.

9:30 AM

Seton Hall University

Western Michigan

AJ Soldra celebrates a run scoring single against Creighton

Soldra Selected by Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 MLB Draft

Wednesday, July 16

Aiden Robbins comes out of the Pirates' tunnel prior to a game at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium.

Robbins Named to ABCA All-Region Second Team

Monday, June 16

Four Named to CSC Academic All-District Team

Thursday, June 05

Robbins Svenson, Milewski Named to All-BIG EAST Teams

Tuesday, May 20

Next Event

Saint Peter's

W, 16-2

Mar 18 (Wed)

4:00 PM

Recap History

Full Schedule

3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

March 14, 2015

PHOTO GALLERY | BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. - Freshman Shane McCarthy (Fair Haven, N.J.) pitched eight innings and gave up just one run as the Seton Hall baseball team won its fourth consecutive game with an 11-2 rout of Western Michigan on Saturday.

McCarthy, making only his second career start, was magnificent. The right-hander threw only 78 pitches for his first career victory.

Senior D.J. Ruhlman (Belle Mead, N.J.) reached base in all five of his at bats, going 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Ruhlman, who started the season mired in a 4-for-29 slump, has batted .733 in the four games of the Snowbird Classic and seen his batting average rise to .341.

Collectively, Seton Hall has flipped an offensive switch since getting to Port Charlotte. The Pirates didn't score fewer than 11 runs per game at the Snowbird Classic after averaging just 2.7 runs per game during their 1-8 start. Furthermore, The Hall has seen its team batting average improve from .181 to .246 in just four games.

Seton Hall (5-8) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. With one out Alex Falconi (Freeport, N.Y.) beat out an infield single and the shortstop's throw sailed into the Pirates' dugout, which awarded Falconi second base. Kyle Grimm (Bergenfield, N.J.) and Ruhlman were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Senior Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly to score Falconi with the first run of the game. The Pirates stranded three, but took the early lead.

With the score tied at one, the Pirates broke out offensively in the second inning. Chris Chiaradio (Teaneck, N.J.) singled to lead off. Derek Jenkins (Annandale, N.J.) hit into a fielder's choice, but Zack Weigel (Oak Park, Ill.) followed with a double down the left field line. After a lengthy at bat, Falconi hit a scorcher to second base and the ball went through the legs of the second baseman for an error. Two runs scored and the Pirates took a 3-1 advantage. With two outs, Ruhlman walked. On a pickoff attempt, Bronco pitcher Derek Schneider threw wide of first, which allowed Falconi to score with the Pirates' fourth run. Annunziata followed with a two-run home run, his first of the season, to extend the Pirates' lead to 6-1.

While McCarthy continued to put up zeros from the mound, the Pirates' offense tacked on some late insurance runs. Grimm led off the seventh inning with a double to deep center field. Ruhlman followed with a moon-shot of a home run to left-center field to up the Seton Hall advantage to 8-1. In the eighth, the Pirates scored three more runs, fueled by Grimm's two-run double.

Today's Seton Hall victory is also the 300th career win for head coach Rob Sheppard.

Seton Hall will return to action on Wednesday, March 18 for its 2015 home opener at Owen T. Carroll Field. The Pirates will face in-state rival Saint Peter's. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.