Baseball Slugs Past Emerson in Doubleheader Sweep

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Elms College baseball team improved their win streak to four games with a non-conference sweep of Emerson College Wednesday afternoon at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Blazers dropped the Lions, 8-2, in the opener, and then defeated Emerson, 8-2, in the finale.

In game one, the Blazers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning behind an RBI groundout from sophomore Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.). Elms pushed their advantage to 2-0 in the fourth as Gelzinis scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.). The Lions cut their deficit in half on an RBI fielder's choice from sophomore Mitch Moorman (Hollywood, Fla.) in the bottom half of the inning.

The Blazers padded their lead in the top of the fifth with three straight RBIs, led off by an RBI double from senior Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.). Junior Brian Hungerford (New Preston, Conn.) plated junior R.J. Lyrenmann (Glendale, Ariz.) with a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single from Gelzinis, staking Elms to a 5-1 lead. The Lions added a run in the fifth on an RBI single from sophomore Connor Damiano (Randolph, N.J.).

The Blazers put the game away in the top of the seventh as Forrest ripped a leadoff double, and then scored on an RBI single from senior Geoff Frost (Ludlow, Mass.). Zima followed Frost with a two-run double, sending Elms to the 8-2 win.

Elms junior pitcher Tom Weldon (Springfield, Mass.) registered a complete game effort, surrendering two runs on eight hits with a game-high nine strikeouts in seven innings of work. Lions freshman Henry Schwartz (Queens, N.Y.) took the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits in six innings pitched.

During the nightcap, the Blazers went up 1-0 on an RBI single from Frost in the bottom of the first. Emerson grabs their first lead of the day in the third as Moorman scored on a wild pitch from Elms junior Andrew Sadowski (Northampton, Mass.). The Lions pulled ahead on an RBI double from Lions sophomore Clint Fontanella (Pelham, N.H), to take a 2-1 lead. Elms pulled even in the bottom of the frame as Forrest came around on an RBI single from Gelzinis.

Elms exploded for six runs in the fifth with four straight singles to open the inning, capped by a two-run single from Frost. A single from junior Nolan Medeiros (Taunton, Mass.) brought home Forrest. With two outs and the bases loaded, Elms senior Kevin Dwire (Ellington, Conn.) drove in a pair, trailed by an RBI single from sophomore Jeff Hockenberry (Westfield, Mass.) to put the game out of reach, sending the Blazers to the 8-2 victory.

Sadowski (1-1) earned the win, giving up two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Emerson junior Steven Cameron (Lansdale, Pa.) was credited with the loss, surrendering eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in four-plus innings of work. Frost racked up four RBIs on the day, while Zima added three RBIs.

With the wins, Elms improves to 4-3 on the season, while Emerson drops to 0-7 overall. The Blazers will look to continue their winning ways with their final doubleheader of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic against St. Joseph's (L.I.). First pitch of game one is slated for 9:00 a.m.

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