Walk-off wins have become a hot commodity for the Seton Hill baseball team.
Nobody has done it better lately, or with more flair, than the Griffins.
They were at it again Sunday, earning two thrilling, extra-inning victories against visiting Pitt-Johnstown to stretch their winning streak to 11. (The streak has since reached 13).
Senior third baseman Jack Oberdorf, a Greensburg Salem alum, delivered a game-winning single for a 2-1, eight-inning win over the Mountain Cats, and then he also had a hand in the second victory.
Oberdorf raced home on a wild pitch to give the Griffins (20-7, 8-0 PSAC West) a 7-6 win in 13 innings.
Walk off 17.
— Seton Hill Baseball (@SHGriffBaseball) April 3, 2023
Walk off 18.
Sunday sweep. pic.twitter.com/aVpMiwk4eW
BB: Another walk off win for the Griffins as Jack Oberdorf scores on a wild pitch to give SHU a 7-6 win over UPJ in 13 innings. pic.twitter.com/zSrZTK4PKv
— SHUGriffin Athletics (@GriffinsSports) April 2, 2023
Give this team a chance to hang around, and it will do so until its patience and want-to produces a dramatic finish.
“We have kind of adopted a refuse-to-lose mentality,” said senior shortstop Owen Sabol, a Norwin graduate. “Winning games isn’t easy in this conference and you have to scrap and claw for every win, and we have a really tough group of guys that are getting it done.”
Seton Hill has now played in nine one-run games and has won six of them. Four have come in extra innings.
Some other one-run wonders:
• Sabol ripped a single to right to bring home Vince Rauso for a 3-2 win over LeMoyne.
• In the same series, Rauso raced home on a wild pitch in a 5-4 victory against LeMoyne.
• When Seton Hill edged past Cal (Pa.), 6-5, Sabol delivered the deciding RBI single.
• A 6-5 win over West Liberty in 12 innings was capped by another Rauso run after he scored on a wild pitch.
Coach Marc Marizzaldi said the Griffins’ late-game swagger is a product of its unwavering optimism.
“There is a ‘we can do anything’ attitude that permeates the dugout throughout the games,” he said. “It’s no secret our pitching and defense has been consistently solid so far this season. You hear a lot of cooperation among the players — ‘Just get me one run, and I’ll hold it down,’ or, ‘Just give us one more zero next inning, and we’ll find a way to win it for you.’”
Marizzaldi, who recently managed his 1,000th game, thinks the Griffins thrive on the pressure.
“This group has fed off one another and stayed very positive in those game-on-the-line situations,” he said. “A positive team is a powerful team, and I think we are learning that.”
Seton Hill is ranked third in the Atlantic Regional rankings.
Between games of today's doubleheader against UPJ, head coach Marc Marizzaldi was presented a painting by @codysabolart in recognition the 1,000th game in Seton Hill baseball program history. Coach Marizzaldi has been the coach for all 1,000 games. pic.twitter.com/hUWeYcfjtX
— SHUGriffin Athletics (@GriffinsSports) April 3, 2023
