Quinn pitches Seahawks to split with Gulls
NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Patrick Quinn (Middletown, R.I.) pitched a complete-game shutout in Game 1 of a doubleheader for Salve Regina University baseball as the Seahawks split The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) twinbill with Endicott College on a cold, windy day in Newport. Salve Regina (13-15; 9-5 TCCC) won the opener, 4-0, before Endicott (21-9; 12-4 TCCC) took the nightcap, 7-2.
The Seahawks got on the board right away in their first at-bat as senior Charles Matarazzo (Montville, N.J.) led off with a single up the middle. After stealing second, Matarazzo came home on an RBI double by senior Tom Glynn (Woodbridge, Conn.). Glynn moved to third after Matt Capone (Barrington, R.I.) singled and then came home on a ground out to the right side by senior Brandon Bursie (Smithfield, R.I.).
Quinn, who struck out five Gulls, picked up two Ks in the 4th when he struck out two of Endicott's top hitters - freshmen Jake Northrup (Boxborough, Mass.) and Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.).
Bursie made the play of the day in the 5th with two out when Gulls junior Danny Mello (Peabody, Mass.) belted a Quinn offering deep to center field. Bursie immediately spun around and raced toward the flag pole. He caught up to the long drive with his back to the plate and the ball settled into his glove in the style of Willie Mays.
Matarazzo led of the 5th with a single and moved to third on a single by senior Alexander Melcher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). Glynn drove in his second run of the game with a single to left center. Freshman outfielder Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn.) earned an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the Seahawk 6th inning. Senior Michael O'Neill (Pawtucket, R.I.) had earlier singled Byron Reding (Darien, Conn.) over to third base. Reding had pinch run for senior Jason Sluberski (Verona, N.J.) who worked a leadoff walk.
Endicott doubled its hit total in the 7th inning off Quinn with a pair of two-out, wind-aided basehits. Quinn earned the final out on a grounder to Glynn at third base.
The visitors scored first in Game Two with a pair of runs in the 2nd inning. Chris Dominguez (Braintree, Mass.) delivered the first Gull run driving in Colin Sitarz (West Hartford, Conn.). When Dominguez swiped second base and drew a throw, Gold raced home for the second Gulls run.
Junior starting pitcher Benjamin Petrides (Belchertown, Mass.) kept the Seahawks off the board for the first four innings. Colby reached base with one out in the Seahawk 5th with a ground rule double. Melcher delivered the first Seahawk run with a single up the middle. Glynn reached on an infield single before an error on a grounder by Quinn kept the inning alive and loaded the bases. A walk to Bursie tied the game at 2-2.
Gulls reliever Tyler Hitchcock (Abington, Mass.) retired the only batter he faced to end the Seahawk rally. Northrup put the Gulls back on top in the 6th inning with an RBI double to center field.
O'Neill opened the Seahawk 6th with a single up the middle but ended up stranded at third base.
Endicott had runners on second and third with two outs in the 7th and Northrup, its top hitter, at the plate. Seahawk head coach Steve Cirella visited the mound to meet with his senior battery mates - pitcher Craig Silva (Marlborough, Mass.) and catcher Brendan Tapley (Narragansett, R.I.).
"We had options," said Cirella, referring to walking Northrup with an open first base, "and I am happy that my senior wanted to go and get Northrup out."
Northrup doubled to left center to bring in two insurance runs. Sitarz and Gold added RBI singles later in the inning.
Salve Regina travels to Worcester Academy for a TCCC twinbill with Anna Maria College on Sunday (12 p.m.) while Endicott stays in Rhode Island for its doubleheader with Roger Williams University.
Salve Regina 4, Endicott 0 (04/16/11 at Newport, R.I.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Endicott............ 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (20-9, 11-4 TCCC)
Salve Regina........ 200 011 X - 4 9 0 (13-14, 9-4 TCCC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Endicott - Mike Nich; Kevin Dupras(6) and Robbie Goldstick. Salve Regina - Pat Quinn
and Brendan Tapley.
Win-Pat Quinn(4-1) Loss-Mike Nich(5-2) T-1:46 A-0
Game: BB0416_1
Endicott 7, Salve Regina 2 (04/16/11 at Newport, R.I.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Endicott............ 020 001 4 - 7 9 1 (21-9, 12-4 TCCC)
Salve Regina........ 000 020 0 - 2 10 2 (13-15, 9-5 TCCC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Endicott - Benjamin Petrides; Tyler Hitchcock(5); Connor McLaughlin(6); Tyler Hill(7) and Robbie Goldstick. Salve Regina - Craig Silva; Nicholas Politelli(7) and Brendan Tapley.
Win-Tyler Hitchcock(3-1) Loss-Craig Silva(1-1) T-2:12 A-155
Game: BB0416_2