Baseball Rolls Over Rivier, Secures Top Seed in GNAC Tournament
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 0 |
|
Rivier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 0 |
|
Rivier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
NASHUA, N.H. – The Mitchell College baseball team secured the top overall seed in the upcoming Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Tournament by sweeping Rivier University on Saturday at Harvey Woods Field.
The Mariners rolled to a 10–0 victory in the opener before downing the Raiders 12–4 in game two.
The Mariners (23-9, 16-2 GNAC) will play a non-conference game on Monday, April 20, at Eastern Connecticut State University, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Game 1 – Mitchell 10, Rivier 0
The Mariners opened the scoring in the second inning and steadily built their lead, breaking the game open with a four-run fourth inning to take control. Mitchell added two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to put the contest out of reach.
Sophomore Ryan Dennis (Ellington, Conn.) led the offensive attack with three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored while also swiping three bases. Junior Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) added a double and drove in three runs, while senior Johnny Brucato (Cheshire, Conn.) homered as part of a two-hit day with two runs scored.
Mitchell finished with 11 hits in the contest and was aggressive on the basepaths, recording multiple stolen bases throughout the lineup.
On the mound, senior Thai-ler Sestokas (Danbury, Conn.) earned the win, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out five. Junior Ethan Chavez (New London, Conn.) followed with 3.0 shutout innings to complete the combined five-hit shutout.
Rivier was limited to five hits, with Colton Colleran accounting for three of them. Anthony Morro was charged with the loss for the Raiders, surrendering six runs in 3.2 innings of work.
Game 2 – Mitchell 12, Rivier 4
The Mariners broke the game open in the second inning, erupting for eight runs on a flurry of hits and Rivier miscues to seize complete control. Mitchell continued to add on later in the game, highlighted by a two-run home run from Ficocelli in the seventh that extended the lead to 10–2.
Ficocelli led the offensive attack with four hits, including a home run and two doubles, while driving in three runs. Brucato added two hits and two RBI, and Dennis chipped in two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Senior Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.) also drove in a pair of runs as Mitchell totaled 13 hits in the contest.
On the mound, freshman Andrew Manzo (North Haven, Conn.) earned the win, allowing four runs on eight hits over 8.0 innings while striking out three. Senior Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.) tossed a scoreless ninth inning in relief.
Rivier finished with eight hits, with Nathan Innerfield driving in three runs on a double and a home run.
