#21 Salve Regina defeats Amherst, 4-1

AMHERST, Mass. – The Mammoths lone score came in the bottom of the sixth as the Amherst College baseball team fell to No. 21 Salve Regina University, 4-1 Monday afternoon at Memorial Field.

With the loss, Amherst falls to 10-10 on the season, while Salve Regina improves to 21-4 overall. Amherst returns to action on Friday, April 21 when they travel to Hamilton for game one of a three-game NESCAC West series beginning at 4 p.m.

Following three scoreless innings, the Seahawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Leading off, Alex Perry doubled down the left field line before Zack Smith reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Stepping up to the plate, Christian Vargas logged two RBI for Salve, ripping a double to deep center field to score both runners.

Salve tacked on another run in the fifth to extend its lead to 3-0, as Perry sent a two out single up the middle to score Hunter Sleeper from third.

Getting their first two hitters on base once again in the sixth, David Brinkley '19 and Chris Baldi '17 came through on the mound for Amherst, notching three consecutive outs on two ground balls and a line out to keep the Mammoth deficit at three.

Harry Roberson '18 got Amherst on the board in the bottom half of the sixth, powering a two out, solo home run over the left field wall to record what stood as the Mammoths lone run of the contest.

Nick Nardone '19 and Zach Horwitz '20 registered a highlight reel play for Amherst in the seventh, with Nardone quickly adjusting to a big hop on a hard hit ball to third and Horwitz making an athletic pick on the throw at first to steal a hit from Dylan Ketch.

Plating the final run of the game in the top of the ninth, Josh Militano hit a chopper just over the head of the Mammoth first baseman to plate Brody Santilli as the Seahawks captured the 4-1 victory.

Tasked with the start, George Long '17 (0-3) tossed 4.2 innings, giving up one earned run and striking out two in the losing effort. Andrew Ferrero '19, Brinkley, Baldi and Mike Castiglie '17 also saw time on the mound, with Ferrero and Brinking combining for 1.0 inning, Baldi pitching 2.1 innings and Casiglie tossing the final inning for Amherst.

Jimmy Fitzgerald (4-0) allowed two hits, no runs and struck out six in 5.0 innings to earn the win, before Will Ginsberg entered to throw 2.0 innings in relief. Patrick Maybach clinched the save for Salve, giving up two hits and whiffing two in the 2.0 innings on the mound.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Seahawks owned a slight 7-5 edge in hits in the contest, while Amherst left four runners on base and Salve stranded seven.
• Roberson's homer was the sole extra base hit for Amherst, while four Seahawk hitters logged doubles. 
• The Mammoth staff allowed seven hits and one earned run and combined for three strikes and one ball, while Salve Regina gave up two hits and one earned run while striking out 11 and walking one.