Seventh-inning rallies lift Seahawks to sweep of Colonels

NEWPORT, R.I. (Saturday, March 27, 2021) - Trailing 8-5 entering its final at bat of the season and Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener, Salve Regina University baseball earned a walk-off victory, 9-8 over Curry College, after sophomore Matt D'Amato (Midland Park, N.J.) drilled his third hit of the game, a two-run double that plated Jared Beniers (Abington, Mass.) and Zach Barlok (Cheshire, Conn.) with the tying and winning runs. The Seahawks (2-0, 2-0 CCC) swept the Colonels (2-2, 0-2 CCC) after scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh in Game Two to finish with an 8-3 victory.

Relievers Holden Ferrari (Dover, Mass.) and Zach Lopez (New Canaan, Conn.) earned the victories with impressive outings. Ferrari hurled a 1-2-3 seventh in Game One with three strikeouts. Lopez pitched scoreless ball for the final three frames and also struck out three Colonels. Two Curry bullpen workers suffered seventh-inning struggles and each took a loss. In the opener, junior Nick Kavrakis (Southwick, Mass.) did not retire a batter after relieving starter Zachary Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) who was lifted after Anthony Cieszko (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) led off the seventh with a single. Freshman Aaron Diaz (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) allowed six runs on five hits and a base on balls in the seventh inning of Game Two.

D'Amato and Dylan Ketch (Clinton, Conn.) each collected three basehits in the first game while freshman Michael Breen (Auburn, Mass.) had a pair of extra basehits (home run, double) and four RBI. In the second game, Sean O'Malley (Darien, Conn.) had three hits including a solo blast to center field.

The two teams are schedule to play another twinbill tomorrow in Milton, Mass., with Curry hosting the first game at 9:30 a.m.