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LHP Eric Surkamp (NC State) returned to the Cardinals tonight

Cardinals Win Third Straight, Six Of Seven

Pitching staff puts together another shutout

June 28, 2007

By: Brett Brecheisen - Orleans Cardinals Intern

Orleans, Massachusetts – The Orleans Cardinals continue to win, just as the pitching staff continues to dominate.  The Cards picked up their fourth shutout of the season tonight in a 3-0 victory over Falmouth.  It was the first time the two teams had met this season and Orleans wasted no time impressing the Commodores.

In the bottom of the first, RF Dennis Raben (Miami, FL) belted his third home run of the year.  Raben turned on a pitch and sent it well over the fence in right as the right-fielder turned and watched.

RHP Michael Schwimer (Virginia) pitched well in his second start for the Cards.  The junior took a line drive to the right side of his body early in the contest, but 3B Mark Sobolewski (Miami, FL) made an outstanding bare-handed play to get the out at first. Schwimer was not injured as he stayed in the game without any difficulties.

LHP Eric Surkamp (NC State) came in to relieve Schwimer after the fifth inning.  Schwimer left with another impressive performance.  He allowed one hit while striking out four and did not surrender a run.  Schwimer has now thrown ten shutout innings this season.

“We're really starting to gel as a team here so it's really a lot of fun to play in front of these guys,” he said.

The appearance by Surkamp was his first of the season.  He played for the Cardinals last summer and posted a 3-2 record with an impressive 2.37 ERA. Surkamp's line was rather impressive, as well.  He struck out one batter and gave up one hit in two innings of work and continued the Cardinals trend of keeping runs off the board in his return.

Not only did the Commodores not score a run tonight; but, they did not advance a runner to third base.  Falmouth did attempt to send a runner to third in the sixth but he was thrown out when Surkamp picked up an overthrown ball near the opponent’s dugout and quickly threw it to Sobolewski at third for the tag out.

Orleans picked up some insurance in the eighth inning when DH Nate Freiman (Duke) doubled to the gap in right-center that scored two runs.  The two-RBI hit made the score 3-0.

“Nate is a kid that works hard every day and prepares every at bat and really pays attention to the game.  He has a big job.  Whoever is hitting behind Raben has a big responsibility.  With the way Dennis is swinging the bat, he's going to get pitched around some and the guy behind him is going to see guys on base a lot of the time.  Obviously that's why Freiman is in the 4-hole now,” Field Manager Kelly Nicholson said.

RHP Nick Christiani (Vanderbilt) came in for the ninth inning in yet another save situation and was perfect again.  Throwing only four pitches, Christiani retired the side.  Christiani is now 3-for-3 in save situations for the Cardinals this year.

“I try to just go out there and not think about the situation.  It's just another inning and another batter,” Christiani said.

The win puts the Cardinals within one point of the Eastern Division and Cape League leader, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.  The Cards will play at the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.  Tomorrow Orleans will travel to Harwich at 7:00pm for their first meeting with the Mariners this season.

W - Michael Schwimer (Virginia), 2-0

L - Aaron Crow (Missouri), 0-1

SV - Nick Christiani (Vanderbilt), 3