Baseball Takes Two in GNAC Twin Bill Against Colby-Sawyer
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Colby-Sawyer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | X | 11 | 10 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Colby-Sawyer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team improved to 5–1 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play following a pair of wins over Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
It was all Mitchell in the opener, as the Mariners cruised past the Chargers 11–0 before earning a 7–6 victory in game two.
Winners of six straight games, the Mariners (12–6, 5–1 GNAC) will look to stay hot when they hit the road for a conference doubleheader at Dean College on Sunday, March 29. First pitch in the opener is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
Game 1 – Mitchell 11, CSC 0
After three scoreless innings to open the game, Mitchell broke through in the fourth with four runs, taking advantage of a Colby-Sawyer error before junior Jayden Sgro (Glastonbury, Conn.) delivered a two-run single. Sophomore Ryan Dennis (Ellington, Conn.) followed with an RBI single to cap the inning and give the Mariners a 4–0 lead.
Mitchell put the game out of reach in the sixth, erupting for seven runs in the frame. Dennis drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home a run, and senior Johnny Brucato (Cheshire, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another. Senior Kenneth Miller Jr. (New London, Conn.) added a sacrifice fly before junior Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) contributed an RBI single.
Junior Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) provided the big blow of the inning, launching a three-run home run to left center to extend the lead to 11–0. For Terni Jr., the homer was his team-leading fourth of the season and the 23rd of his Mitchell career, leaving him one long ball shy of tying the program's Division III home run record.
Mitchell finished with 10 hits in the contest, with Dennis leading the way with two hits and two RBI. Ficocelli and junior Christopher Piscione (Cranston, R.I.) each added two hits, while Terni Jr. drove in a game-high three runs.
On the mound, senior Thai-ler Sestokas (Danbury, Conn.) was dominant, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out five.
Colby-Sawyer was limited to four hits on the day, with Dylan Watson, Evan Dennis, Noah Staffier, and Janai Cruz each recording one. On the mound, Micah McMannus was charged with the loss after surrendering four runs in 5.0 innings of work.
Game 2 – Mitchell 7, CSC 6
After falling behind 2–0 in the first inning, the Mariners chipped away with single runs in each of the first three frames. Senior Kenneth Miller Jr. delivered an RBI single in the first, while Mitchell capitalized on a Colby-Sawyer error in the second before junior Christopher Piscione added an RBI single in the third to give the Mariners a 3–2 lead.
The Chargers evened the score in the fifth, but Mitchell regained the advantage in the seventh when senior Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.) drew a bases-loaded walk, and fellow senior Savier Paige (Wethersfield, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 5–3.
Colby-Sawyer responded in the ninth, as Janai Cruz launched a three-run home run to center field to put the visitors back in front, 6–5.
Mitchell answered in the bottom half of the inning, starting with an RBI single from Paige to tie the game. Moments later, Dennis delivered the game-winning infield single, bringing home Bracale to seal the walk-off victory.
The Mariners finished with 12 hits in the contest, with Miller Jr. leading the way with three hits and an RBI. Bracale added two hits and an RBI, while Paige drove in a team-high two runs.
On the mound, freshman Andrew Manzo (North Haven, Conn.) started and allowed three runs (one earned) over 5.0 innings. Senior Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J.) provided strong relief, tossing 3.2 innings while allowing two runs and striking out four. Senior Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.) earned the win in relief.
Colby-Sawyer totaled eight hits in the game, with Cruz accounting for three RBI on the go-ahead home run in the ninth.
