Top Five Flashback: Baseball #1 (May 10, 2015)
Top Five Flashback
Baseball #1 - ECAC champions after five-run rally in ninth inning (May 10, 2015)
NEWPORT, R.I. - Trailing 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning the Salve Regina University baseball team scored five runs and shut out Framingham State University in the bottom of the frame to claim the 2015 ECAC Division III Baseball Championship.
Tommy Seaver (Rocking Hill, Conn.) struck out four and didn't allow a hit in 1.2 innings of work to close out the game for the Seahawks and was named Most Outstanding Player.
The game was a pitchers duel as both starters went deep into the game. Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y.) threw 124 pitches in seven innings, striking out seven while relinquishing three runs on eight hits. For the Rams, Mike Andrews (Stoneham, Mass.) went eight innings giving up two runs on six hits on 131 pitches.
The Seahawks had their opportunity to answer in the top part of the third inning, with runners at the corners and only one out. Alek Kucich (Old Brookville, N.Y.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ryan Kelly (Waldick, N.J.) over to second, but Alex Perry (North Attleboro, Mass.)would ground out to first to end the inning, standing two base runners.
The middle portion of the game was dominated by pitching and strong defensive play in the field. Both teams had to battle the elements, despite it being a warm sunny day. There was a low rolling fog that made life difficult for outfielders, and a strong wind that consistently kicked up the dirt on the infield.
It wasn't until the top of the sixth inning that the Seahawks were finally able to figure out Andrews and string together some hits against the Rams starter.
Kelly began the inning with a leadoff single, followed by a base hit from Kucich. Alex Perry singled through the right side driving in Kelly, who had been running from second on the pitch. Perry advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I.) walked to load the bases with no outs.
David Neil (Randolph, Mass.) would then ground into a double play but Kucich was able to score from third and tie the game 2-2. Dan Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) drew a walk to put runners at the corners with two outs for freshman catcher Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.)but Vargas would strike out swinging to retire the side and the game remained tied.
The Rams threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth with runners at first and second and one out, but Colon, who had homered earlier, hit into a double play to end the inning.
The Seahawks went down in order in the top of the seventh, bringing the Rams quickly back up to bat.
With one out John Gill (Hudson, Mass.) singled up the middle for a base hit then advanced to second on a groundout by Kevin Driscoll (Chelmsford, Mass.). Then Ryan Connelly (West Roxbury, Mass.) smoked a single right back at Poplawski into centerfield, scoring Connelly to retake the lead for the Rams, 3-2.
The top of the eighth inning came and went and the Seahawks were unable to tie the game, stranding two more base runners in the top of the frame. Kyle Lefelar (Potomac, Md.) began the bottom of the inning in relief of Poplawski but was pulled after facing just two batters, getting Matthew Gerard (Milford, Mass.) to fly out then giving up a double to Mark Mainini (Hull, Mass.).
Momentum seemed to be on the Rams side, and they seemed primed to add more runs on the board but Seaver came out of the pen and calmly struck out the next two batters to retire the side sending Salve Regina to the top of the ninth, trailing 3-2.
The Seahawks had struggled to find rhythm against Mike Andrews but with their backs against the wall the Seahawks batters came alive against Framingham State's relief pitching.
Vargas led things off with a walk, and then was pinch run for by Sam Brito (Lincoln, R.I.).Cory Blankmeyer (Centerport, N.Y.) singled up the middle, putting runners at first and second with no outs.
After showing bunt earlier in his at-bat John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.) swung on a 2-2 pitch and sent it on the ground into leftfield. The throw from the outfield was in time but high and over the head of the catcher letting Brito score to tie the game.
The Seahawks weren't done though. After an intentional walk of Ryan Kelly the Rams brought in Chris Riga (Westfield, Mass.) to face Kucich with bases loaded and no outs. Kucich hammered the first pitch from Riga into the gap in right field scoring Blankmeyer and Militano and giving the Seahawks their first lead of the game.
Still with no outs Alex Perry doubled down the left-field line to bring in Ryan Kelly and the Seahawks had blown the game open, 6-3 with no outs.
Two batters later Dan Donohue would hit a sac-fly to left field scoring Kucich and a 7-3 lead for Salve Regina.
Sean Becker (Richmond, Va.) would pinch hit for Brito and strike out swinging to end the inning but the Seahawks damage had been done, scoring five runs on four hits when they needed it most.
Seaver returned for the bottom of the ninth and the freshman righthander struck out two more as part of a shutout half-inning to seal the game, and an ECAC Championship for Salve Regina.Salve Regina finishes their season with a 26-16 record while Framingham State falls to 27-19 on the season.
For the Seahawks five seniors, Donohue, Becker, Haley, Kyle Pheland (North Scituate, R.I.), and Thomas Betros (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) it is a great way to wrap up their Salve Regina careers, and for the remaining players there will be plenty of excitement about 2016.
It is the first ECAC Championship for the Seahawks since 2004. Following that ECAC Championship the Seahawks went on to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in 2005.