The Defending Champion MERKSEM ROYAL GREYS used a second inning run and a complete game twelve strikeout, five-hit, no walk performance from Dennis Van Hoof to defeat the NAMUR ANGELS 1-0 at Stad Antwerpen.
NAMUR countered with its own stellar pitching from Caleb Calarco and Nicolas Migeot who combined to strike out nine GREYS and scatter just four hits yielding a single run. They also managed to pitch around six walks.
MERKSEM scored their run in the second inning courtesy of a leadoff double from Bryon Bell followed by a walk to Kevin Knollenburg. Both runners were advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Andy Ruelle and scored on Dave Herssens ground ball to third base. Another walk loaded the bases, but Calarco induced the GREYS to hit into an inning ending double play to escape from the bases loaded situation. That was the last time the GREYS would threaten until the seventh inning when Migeot entered the game with a runner on third and two outs and promptly recorded a strike-out to end the threat. In the eighth Migeot again came up with a huge strikeout to leave the bases loaded.
NAMUR´s offense never really hit its stride against Van Hoof as it recorded multiple baserunners in only the first inning. After the first two batters were retired Juny Gressman knocked a single through the hole on the right side and move to second on a single to left by Morgan Brown. A groundout ended the inning and the ANGELS would not see another runner at second base until the 9th inning on a double by Ronny Heymans. The only other offense mustered by NAMUR was a hit in the second inning by Adrien Geuquet and another by Brown in the sixth.
NAMUR next faces the BRUSSELS KANGAROOS.
More results from last weekend in the Belgian First Division:
{mrb-result:2008-04-19|2008-04-20|BE}
Complete Results
{mrb-standing:belgium-2008}