Ketch catching fire with solo blast in first inning; Seahawks win 5-1

NEWPORT, R.I. (April 28, 2022) - Salve Regina University sophomore relief pitcher Nicolas Santo (Pompano Beach, Fla.) went four innings after freshman starter Nick Callano (Ocean, N.J.) threw the first two, and the Seahawks finished with a 5-1 win over visiting Mariners of Mitchell College in non-league baseball action on Thursday afternoon at Reynolds Field.

Catcher Dylan Ketch (Clinton, Conn.) launched a first-inning solo homer, his first of the season, after two were out to get the Salve Regina (20-9-2) offense started. The Seahawks banged out double-digit hits (11) for the ninth straight game and have gone 8-1 in that stretch with today's win matching their season-long win streak at four (4) games for the third time.

Dustin Siqueira (Trumbull, Conn.), Jared Beniers (Abington, Mass.), Chris Veneruso (Westport, Conn.), and Ketch each finished with two hits apiece. Siqueira, who also drove in a run, extends his hit streak to 11 games.

Callano tossed two hitless innings in his fourth appearance (all starts) of the season. Santo, making his eighth appearance of the season (all in relief), earned his first career decision (1-0) while striking out one Mariner and allowing just a walk and a single in his four frames.

Mitchell (23-10) senior starter Ryan Solimine (Danbury, Conn.) took the loss in his first decision of 2022 after going five innings and surrenduring eight hits, four runs (three earned), and striking out four Seahawks.

Tommy DelVecchio (Westfield, N.J.), Daniel Manente (Somers, Conn.), Ryan Hohmann (Norwell, Mass.), and Graham Jeffries (Chelmsford, Mass.) all worked the mound with no Seahawk pitcher tossing more than one strikeout.

Sophomore right fielder Owen Robbins (Salem, Conn.) spoiled the shutout with his run-scoring double in the ninth. The Mariners left 10 men on base.

Salve Regina returns to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action on Saturday when Western New England University visits Newport for an 11 a.m. start of the Senior Day doubleheader. In pre-game festivities, the Seahawks will honor Patrick Maybach (Saunderstown, R.I.), Dylan Ketch (Clinton, Conn.), Jared Beniers (Abington, Conn.), Dustin Siqueira (Trumbull, Conn.), Michael Mathews (West Hartford, Conn.), Ryan O'Donnell (Saunderstown, R.I.), Andrew Roman (Monson, Mass.).