Enns ends Panthers' losing streak

Author: Livingston Burgess

After the baseball team fell in its opener against Hamilton this weekend, Erich Enns '10 must have decided it was time to take matters into his own hands.

Over the course of Saturday's doubleheader, Enns personally drove in more runs than the Continentals were able to plate with their entire lineup, ending game two with eight RBIs and three home runs ­- both school records. In all, the team racked up wins by scores of 10-2 and 22-7, drawing closer to the .500 mark, and Enns collected 10 RBI and four homers.

"The pitchers made a lot of mistakes," said Enns. "And it was also a short fence, but, yeah, I just felt really good at the plate. Success in at-bats just kind of builds upon itself."

Were it not for that record-setting game, the story of the weekend would likely have been Nick Angstman's '11 very strong pitching in the opener. Angstman went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits and walking only one. The first-year has emerged as one of the Panthers' strongest pitchers this season after Justin Wright's '08 shoulder injury shuffled the rotation, leading starters with a 4.30 earned run average.

Middlebury's offensive attack was fully geared up in game two. Mark Shimrock '09 pounded six RBIs and drew a pair of walks and Nick Lefeber '08 joined Shimrock and Enns in sending a ball over the short fences at Hamilton's Royce Field.

In that second game, Wright also made his first start of the season, following a pair of relief appearances. He pitched effectively, aided in no small part by the 22 runs handed him, giving up four runs and scattering eight hits over five frames.

The busy Panthers also picked up a non-conference win, 11-6, over Castleton State on Sunday, as third baseman John Lanahan '08 went a perfect 4-4 and scored three times. With the win, the team crept to within one game of .500, now a big goal, at 13-14 (4-8 NESCAC).

In addition, Enns picked up NESCAC Player of the Week honors for his efforts, joining Shimrock as the second Panther to earn the award this season. Still, despite the accolades, the sophomore credited the team's seniors for guiding the squad, both through this season's difficulties and its successes.

"Yeah, I had a good weekend, but there's definitely a difference between hitting well and showing good leadership," said Enns. "I think our senior leadership really showed when we were struggling."

Enns says their attitude has allowed Middlebury to keep their morale at a high level, leading to performances like this weekend's. The remainder of the Panthers' season will be played in Maine this weekend, with a game at Bowdoin on Friday and two at Bates the next day.