Seahawks sweep Scots

SEAHAWK BASEBALL RESULTS

Salve Regina 5, Gordon 4 [1]
Salve Regina 9, Gordon 8 [2]
Newport, R.I. - Reynolds Field
Saturday, April 23, 2016

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University baseball team had to overcome deficits in each game of a doubleheader versus Gordon College to earn a sweep in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play Saturday afternoon. 

Series and Streaks
This was the 57th and 58 meeting between Salve Regina and Gordon. The Seahawks have won four in a row over the Scots and lead the all-time series 46-12.

Three Seahawk Stars of the Day
1 – Salve Regina freshman Tristan Dacey (Wyckoff, N.J.) - was 2-2 in game two with two home runs, including a three run shot that sparked the Seahawks in the fourth inning.
2 – Salve Regina freshman Zach Zmith (New Canaan, Conn.) - went 3-4 in game one with three RBI including a two-run walk-off single in the seventh inning.
3 – Salve Regina sophomore Jonathan Lynch (Cumberland, R.I.) - pitched a scoreless and hitless inning and a third of relief in game one.

Key Stat of the Day
The Scots held leads of 4-1 (game 1) and 5-1 (game 2) but could not hold the lead in either game.

Turning Point
In game one the Seahawks trailed 4-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J.) led off the frame by being hit by a pitch, then advanced to second on a passed ball. John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.) then flew out to center to move Kelly to third. Alex Perry (No. Attleboro, Mass.) was walked to put runners at the corners, setting the stage for Zach Smith to loop a single into right center, driving two runs for Salve Regina's second consecutive walk-off victory.

In game two the Seahawks had trailed 5-1 but rallied to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth. Still knotted at five runs apiece the Seahawks exploded for four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 9-5 heading to the top of the seventh seeming like there would be little drama compared to game one. However the Scots led of the inning with back-to-back singles from Chris Leavitt (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Christian Hodge (Waltham, Mass.). Jimmy Fitzgerald (Canton, Mass.) struck out the next two batters, but hit Jeremy Jackson (Waco, Texas) to load the bases. The Scots got two more singles and a walk issued by Fitzgerald and suddenly the Seahawks comfortable lead was down to one run with bases still loaded and two outs. The count ran full on Ryan Paulsen (Latham, N.Y.) but Fitzgerald struck him out looking to end the game, and the Seahawks escaped with a 9-8 victory.

Quick Hits

• The Seahawks never led in game one until Smith drove in the winning runs on the final pitch.
• Connor Rogotzke (Altamont, N.Y.) pitched the entirety of game one for the Scots, tossing 128 pitches in the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season. Meanwhile Lynch picked up the win for the Seahawks, improving to 2-0.
• Caleb Bae (Canyon Country, Calif.) pitched five innings while allowing six runs in game two. Derek Hudson (Hudson, N.H.) took the loss to fall to 2-4. Despite the scary finish Fitzgerald gets the win for the Seahawks to improve to 2-1.
• The Seahawks stole six bases on the day.

Next up
Salve Regina (18-10-1, 8-2 CCC) – Sunday, April 24 at Endicott, 12 p.m. [DH]
Gordon (18-14, 7-7 MASCAC) – Wednesday, April 27 vs. Worcester St., 3:30 p.m.