A clutch Ketch and Vargas homers help Seahawks sweep Gulls

SEAHAWK BASEBALL RESULTS
[1] Salve Regina 3, Endicott 2
[2] Salve Regina 13, Endicott 0
Newport, R.I. - Reynolds Field
Saturday, April 8, 2017

Summary
NEWPORT, R.I. - A walk-off single from freshman Dylan Ketch (Clinton, Conn.) in game one and an offensive explosion, 13 runs including a grand slam from junior catcher Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.) in game two helped the 23rd ranked Salve Regina University baseball team earn a sweep over Endicott College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday.

Series and Streaks
This was the 53rd and 54th meetings between the teams. The Seahawks have now won four in a row over the Gulls and have evened the all-time series at 27-27.

Three Seahawk Stars of the Day

1. Salve Regina junior Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.) - went 3-for-3 in game two with three hits (a double, solo homer, and grand slam) for six RBI.
2. Salve Regina junior Jimmy Fitzgerald (Canton, Mass.) - pitched 6.2 innings in game one, flirting with a no-hitter in the seventh, he finished with 10 strikeouts, allowing two runs on one hit.
3. Salve Regina senior Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y.) - pitched six shutout innings while allowing two hits and striking out five in game two.

Key Stat of the Day
Salve Regina pitching held the Gulls to two runs on five hits for the day.

Turning Points
In game one the Seahawks led 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning. With two out and down to their final strike Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.) drew a walk to keep the Gulls alive. A single by Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) broke up a no-hitter for pitcher Jimmy Fitzgerald who then walked Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) to load the bases. Fitzgerald walked in a run before being replaced for Frank Lemieux (Marshfield, Mass.). Lemiuex gave up a single and the lead but limited the damage in the inning to two runs.

Now trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh the Seahawks loaded the bases with one out. Zack Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) was then hit by a pitch from Endicott starter Nick Quattro (Canton, Conn.), tying the game 2-2. Then freshman Dylan Ketch stepped to the plate and hit the first pitch he saw into the gap in left field for a walk-off, comeback victory.

In game two the Seahawks raced out to an early lead and never looked back, jumping on top 5-0 in the first inning. The Seahawks started with three straight singles from Ketch, Alex Perry (No. Attleboro, Mass.) and Zack Smith to grab a 1-0 lead. After the next batter was hit by a pitch catch Christian Vargas stepped to the plate and blasted a 3-2 pitch to deep left field for a grand slam. Vargas would homer again in the second inning, this time just a solo shot, but it capped a four run inning for the Seahawks who led 9-0 at that point.

Quick Hits

• Quattro took the loss in game one to fall to 1-2 on the season while freshman Joseph Oriola (Sandwich, Mass.) took the loss in game two. Oriola allowed nine runs on ten hits in just 1.2 innings of work to fall to 1-3 on the season.
• The Seahawks collected 23 hits and 16 runs on the day.
• Vargas' homers were his first of the season and first since his freshman season (2015).
• The Seahawks now sit atop the CCC standings as the only team without a conference loss.

Next up
Salve Regina (15-4, 6-0 CCC) – Sunday, April 9 at Gordon, 1 p.m. [DH]
Endicott (9-9, 2-4 CCC) – Sunday, April 9 vs. Nichols, 12 p.m. [DH]