Baseball Holds Off Bison
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nichols | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 5 | 10 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Sophomore Joshua Scamman (Rochester, N.H.) tossed five and two third innings of one-run ball to pick up his first win of the season on Tuesday afternoon, as the Mitchell College baseball team held off Nichols College, 5-3, in non-conference action at Alumni Field.
Scamman scattered just two hits and walked five, while striking out a season-high eight batters. Senior Jadon Canelli (Northford, Conn.) earned his second save of the spring, entering the game with runners on second and third with one out in the top of the ninth, before retiring the next two batters in order.
Senior Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) went 2-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, belting a two-run homer in the fifth. Sophomore Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) continued his hot hitting, collecting two hits, one RBI, and one run scored in the win.
Following a pair of scoreless frames to begin the game, the Mariners plated the afternoon's first run after junior Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.) led off the bottom of the third with a triple to right-center, and he was driven in on an RBI groundout to third base by Ficocelli.
The Mariners added to their lead two innings later when Ficocelli led off with a single into left field and Michael Gajda followed with his second home run of the season, a long two-run shot that sailed over the fence in left-center.
Facing Joshua Scamman, the visiting Bison got on the board in the top of the sixth after a walk and a double to shallow centerfield set up a second and third situation with one out. An RBI groundout followed, making it a 3-1 ballgame, and led to the Mariners turning to the bullpen, calling on junior Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.). With runner on the corners and two away, Quiles then escaped the jam by getting the number nine hitting in the Nichols lineup to line out to shortstop.
The Mariners added a run on a bunt single by freshman Braiden Alaimo (Enfield, Conn.) in the bottom of the seventh, but Nichols punched back and scored twice to make it 4-3 on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double to left field by Ben Jarome in the top of the eighth. Mitchell then padded their lead by adding an insurance run on a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Ficocelli in the bottom of the eighth.
Nichols starter Tim Hudson was charged with the loss after surrendering one run in three and third innings of work. Ben Jerome and Ryan Keating each doubled for the Bison.
The Mariners (4-12, 0-0 GNAC) return to the diamond on Thursday, March 20, at home when they host nationally ranked Salve Regina University at 3:30 pm. The Bison (5-3, 0-0 CNE) jump back into action on Wednesday, March 19, with a road game at Wheaton College.
