By Chris Caron

Two weeks ago the Pride Baseball team was on the verge of setting a milestone under head coach Chris Dotolo’s three year reign. Not only was it just two wins shy of tying its win total from last season; the team ERA was down by three runs per game; and it was on pace to be the sixth; and final seed in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.

Since then the Pride has gone into a tumble, losing five of its last six games and was swept by George Mason last weekend and James Madison this last week in conference play.

Now, the pre-season goal of making the conference tournament looks dead, as the Pride is currently sitting in last place in the conference (3-12). Even worse, the Pride still hasn’t been able to pick up that elusive win.

“Our problem over the last couple of weeks has been out pitching and defense, we are just making too many mistakes and letting teams back into the game,” Dotolo said.

The Pride picked up win number 11 last Wednesday against Manhattan in a dramatic 11 inning game and tried bringing that energy into the weekend series against James Madison. “Any win is a good win, but that was a real good win,” said Dotolo of the defeat of Manhattan.

The first game of the series between the Pride and the Dukes Charlie Frago pitched 6 1/3 solid innings of work, but gave up a home run to Skyler Doom in the seventh. James Madison used the momentum of the home run to claw its way back into the game and eventually take a 6-5 win from the Pride.

On Saturday the Dukes showed their resilience once again in defeating the Pride for the second consecutive day, 6-5. The Pride started senior Terrence Vogenburger, making his first conference start, pitched six innings but once again it was a big hit coming from James Madison that helped seal the game for James Madison. Matt Bristow came up with the hit in the top of the sixth inning that brought home three runs.

Kellen Taylor came out of the bullpen and shut down the Dukes “Whatever role he can do better, we are going to use him in whatever spot will help us win games,” said Dotolo of Taylor’s rare appearance out of the bullpen.

The Pride tacked on a run in the eight inning to make it 6-4 and threatened once again in the ninth, but an unconventional double play ended the game. On the play Josh Stewart hit a ground ball and Ricky Caputo slid into second base and pop up, thus being called for interference, ending the game.

“I didn’t think it was a real good call, but I told the guys that if yourself in the position where the umpire can control the outcome of a game your going to lose that game nine times out of ten,” Dotolo said.

Trying to avoid a sweep by a conference opponent for the second straight weekend, the Pride sent David Huth to the mound, but Huth didn’t have his best stuff after coming back from an ankle injury. Huth lasted 5 1/3 innings while giving up six run on ten hits. “We just handed them runs, and we had to earn ours,” Dotolo said.

Ryan Dunn entered for the Pride in the game with a chance for the win. Trailing 6-0 in the eighth inning the Pride showed its resilience once again, putting up five runs in the eighth and ninth inning.

“It’s frustrating because I think if you look at the 18 [runs] that they scored over the weekend we probably gave them nine of them, while we earned all 15 of ours,” Dotolo said.

Ricky Caputo and Josh Stewart continued to hit as Caputo hit .522 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs. Stewart hit .360 with four doubles.

“The guys are doing a good job, they are hustling and battling hard, they are battling down to end which is a good thing, but we need to find a way to win those close ones,” Dotolo said.

The Pride travels to UNC-Wilmington in a pivotal series that starts tomorrow.

Currently, the Pride is out of the playoff picture. Can the Pride make it? “Is it realistic. Yes, I think there is an outside chance, but we just have to find a way to do it,” said Dotolo, who thinks his team might need to go 8-1 in its remaining nine games to make the tournament.

The motto in these final nine games “Find a way to win.”

Better start winning CAA games.