Baseball Jumps By Johnson & Wales, 9-7
BASEBALL JUMPS BY JOHNSON & WALES, 9-7
East Providence, RI, March 26, 2009 - Elms College freshman third baseman Nick Iavicoli (Hampden, MA) and sophomore second baseman Brendan Cordeiro (Berkley, MA) went a combined 9 for 10 with three RBI and four runs scored to lead the Blazers to a 9-7 win over Johnson & Wales University in Thursday's non-conference baseball game at Pierce Field.
Elms College snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 5-7, while Johnson & Wales improved to 6-10.
The host Wildcats jumped out to an early lead when three unearned runs in the bottom of the second for a quick 3-0 lead.
Elms College responded in the top of the third, scoring six runs to take the 6-3 lead. The Blazers used three straight RBI singles by sophomore Cordeiro senior outfielder Nick Mackowiak (Dudley, MA) and Iavicoli.
The Wildcats chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the third when a sacrifice fly by freshman Bryan Sayers (Chelmsford, MA) made the score 6-4.
Elms College added to its lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Iavicoli. The Blazers then capitalized on a pair JWU miscues to extend its their advantage to 9-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, JWU cut the lead to 9-5 on an RBI single by sophomore Nick Alosco (Mahopac, NY) then continued to rally in the bottom of the seventh when senior Eric Rapuano (Clinton, CT) hit a one out double and scored on a RBI double by freshman Alex Verrecchia (Cranston, RI) to cut deficit to 9-6.
JWU again took advantage of an Elms College error with two outs in the inning to make the score 9-7. After a scoreless eighth, JWU put the leadoff runner on in the ninth, but senior relief pitcher Joe Esile (Milford, CT) closed the door for his first save of the season.
Elms College junior middle reliever James Kosiorek (Springfield, MA) picked up the win, as he allowed three runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work.