2008 Woodie Awards
Pitching dominates sweep of Chicago State
Jon Oakley
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
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Junior Eric Eden and seniors Travis Tolsma and Mark DiBernardo combined to pitch 23 innings, allowing only two runs and striking out 18. All three starters received wins, and the Leathernecks (4-14) beat Chicago State 8-2, 6-0 and 11-0 over the weekend.
Tolsma had the most impressive outing, pitching a complete game shutout in Game 2 on Saturday. He gave up only five hits and one walk en route to his first win of the season.
"I just wanted to come out and do my best," Tolsma said. "It's good to come home and pitch in front of the fans. It kept us going. The more they got into it, the more we got into it, and it's easy when you get a six-run lead to cruise through it."
Eden pitched in Game 1 and made a big contribution with eight innings pitched. The 6-foot-5 junior grabbed his second win of the season, utilizing his big curveball to keep the Cougars (3-20) off balance. Eden struck out nine batters and had pinpoint control, giving up no walks. His only blemish came in the third inning when he left a pitch up in the zone to the Chicago State second baseman Chris Goya. The mistake pitch was hit over the fence for a two-run home run, the only Chicago State runs of the weekend.
"It was one pitch," Eden said. "I left it up, and he put a good swing on it. The wind was blowing out hard, so you had to keep the ball down, and I left that one up, but you just have to clear your head and have faith in the team to pick me up."
After the home run, Eden came back and continued where he left off, shutting down the Cougars. His offense came together and Western retook the lead, turning the game into a blowout.
"(After the home run) he came into the dugout and said to me, 'That's it, don't worry, they aren't getting anything else,'" said coach Stan Hyman. "He held his word and we rode him for as long as we could."
DiBernardo started the final game Sunday and played to the high standard already set by Tolsma and Eden. DiBernardo put in six innings of two-hit baseball and had his usual strong command, not allowing a single base on balls. He was relieved in the seventh to allow some relievers to shake the rust off since pitching last weekend.
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