Zach Smith had three hits while driving in a run with each base knock. (Photo by Ed Habershaw)
Zach Smith had three hits while driving in a run with each base knock. (Photo by Ed Habershaw)

Seahawks def. Pioneers, 13-12

SEAHAWK BASEBALL RESULTS
Salve Regina 13, Wm. Paterson 12
Lake Myrtle Park - Auburndale, Fla.
Saturday, March 11, 2017

Summary
AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Salve Regina University junior pitcher Jon Lynch (Cumberland, R.I.) came into the bottom of the ninth with two outs and his team leading, 13-12, with the bases loaded for William Paterson University. After working three innings the previous day, Lynch threw just one pitch and induced a fielder's choice ground out to his classmate and fellow captain, John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.), at second base.

Sophomore Zack Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) and freshman Stephen Cirella (Jamestown, R.I.) both collected three hits apiece for the Seahawks (1-1) while senior Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J.) drove in six runs for the Pioneers (3-1-1) with a three-run home run and a bases loaded double.

Series and Streaks
The teams had met only once before, coincidentally on this same date in 2004 in Tampa, Fla., as the Pioneers took a 7-6 decision.

Three Stars of the Game

  1. Salve Regina sophomore Zack Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) drove in three runs on three hits including a double.
  2. William Paterson senior Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J.) had six runs batted in with a three-run homer and three-run double.
  3. Salve Regina freshman Stephen Cirella (Jamestown, R.I.) went three-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored.

Key Stat of the Game
Seahawk pitchers struck out 14 Pioneers.

Turning Point
Left-handed starter Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J.) faced just seven batters in the first two frames, but the Seahawks plated six runs in the third inning on five hits.

Quick Hits

  • Pioneer outfielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J.) led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right field and was sacrificed to third by fellow outfielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J.). With the infield playing in, Seahawk senior shortstop fielded a grounder and chased down Abate who attempted to retreat to third.
  • Salve Regina starter Jimmy Fitzgerald (Canton, Mass.) struck out six in 4.1 innings.
  • Seahawks had multi-hit games from Militano, Dylan Ketch (Tolland, Conn.), Colton Eremian (Boca Raton, Fla.), and Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.).

Next Up
Salve Regina (1-1) - Sun., March 12 versus Rochester Institute of Technology, 10 a.m. (Auburndale, Fla.)
Wm. Paterson (3-1-1) - Sun., March 12 versus St. Norbert (DH), 10 a.m. (Leesburg, Fla.)