Seahawks take down Presidents, advance to NCAA super regional for first time in program history

CORTLAND, N.Y. (Sunday, May 19, 2024) -- For the first time in the program's history, Salve Regina University baseball advances to an NCAA Super Regional after beating the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson University at host SUNY Cortland's Robert H. Wallace '53 Field on Sunday. 

Washington & Jefferson entered today's game with a loss and two wins in the regional. On Friday, May 17, the Presidents lost to the host school, SUNY Cortland. Saturday, they came back to shutout Colby College 7-0 and rebounded to beat Cortland, 3-1, ending both teams' runs in the NCAAs. The Presidents were the national runners up in 2017. 

To start Sunday's game, Washington & Jefferson managed to blast two home runs in the first inning and propel the Presidents to an early 3-0 lead. Still trailing 3-0 in the top of the third inning, the Seahawks posted an impressive double play when Presidents' Drew Garth (Mars, Pa.) grounded to Christian Homa (Fairfield, Conn.) and with a quick turn from Michael Breen (Auburn, Mass) to Tyler Cannoe (Schenectady, N.Y. ) the lead runner was caught. 

The bottom of the third inning brought up Brandon Grover (Ashland, Mass.) who doubled to get on base and Homa's single that followed brought a run across the plate. Cannoe then hit his second home run of 2024, a two-run bomb, tying the game at 3-3 in a successful third inning. Cannoe's prior home run came on April 27, in Salve Regina's 20-0 Emerson College shutout. 

The turning point came in the fourth inning for the team from Newport. With the bases loaded, Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) reached base on a fielder's choice and Brady Smolinski advanced home from third. Breen, who initially reached base on a Presidents' fielding error also crossed the plate after Homa's groundout and Salve Regina was ahead 5-3.

The Seahawks notched seven more runs in the remaining innings, including back-to-back Seahawk homers by Cannoe and Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) respectively to make the final score 12-3.

No. 1 Seed Salve Regina University goes unbeaten to win the NCAA Division III Baseball Regional in Cortland, New York, rallying for a 12-3 victory over No. 3 Seed Washington & Jefferson College on Sunday. The Seahawks advance to their first-ever super regional. pic.twitter.com/xw8sXRgLQo

— Salve Regina Sports (@SalveAthletics) May 20, 2024

Starting pitcher Joe DeRienzo (Trumbull, Conn.) faced 19 batters and threw 65 pitches, and rebounded from the first-inning shakiness to toss an immaculate inning in the second frame - nine pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts. Kyle Carozza (Fairfield, Conn.) entered in relief in the sixth inning and excelled through four shutout innings where the Presidents mustered only four hits.

Regional All-Tournament Team:
Luis Misla (Cortland)
Nolan Smith (Cortland)
Dante DiMatteo (W&J)
Ethan Marszalek (W&J)
Drew Garth (W&J)
Wil McCarthy (Salve Regina)
Jason Arrigo (Salve Regina)
Brayden Clark (Salve Regina)
Brandon Grover (Salve Regina)
Christian Homa (Salve Regina)
MVP - Michael Breen (Salve Regina)

The Seahawks' man of the match had sincere words of pride expressed through tears following the win. "It means everything. I've been to four regionals -- this is the first one we've gotten to take home," said Tyler Cannoe. "We are a very experienced team, we knew what we were coming into today and we got the job done. I just wanted to help all my guys and I'm so thankful for today and for the outcome of today."

Salve head coach Eric Cirella '05 also had words of pride that extended to his players-- former and current. "I'm so happy for the seniors, I'm happy for the grad guys, I'm happy for the alumni-- everybody that has been part of the program where we've been knocking on the door for years," Cirella said with a smile. "This team was resilient-- down 3-0 and clawing our way back into the game, doing what we do-- [Washington & Jefferson] scored three [in the first inning] and that's all that they scored. Hats off to everybody-- pitching staff, defense-- I think we played a clean game. Just a really gutsy performance for our team. Now we can smile, let our guard down for a day and figure out what the plan is tomorrow and get back to work."