Baseball Slugs Past Hiram in Doubleheader

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Elms College baseball squad pushed their win streak to four game, sweeping a doubleheader against Hiram College at Terry Park Sunday evening. The Blazers torched the Bulldogs, 13-3, in the opening game, and then claimed a 2-1 victory in the nightcap. Elms improves to 4-1 on the season, while Hiram drops to 0-2 overall.

Game 1: Elms 13, Hiram 3

Hiram cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as freshman Bryan Engdahl (Escondido, Calif.) ripped a leadoff triple and then scored on an RBI double from sophomore Phil Ward (Garfield Heights, Ohio). Ward crossed home plate on an RBI single from junior Brandon Chesmar (Elyria, Ohio) to stake the Terriers to a 2-0 lead. Hiram pushed their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third as Ward delivered an RBI double.

In the top of the fifth, Elms plated their first run behind an RBI single from senior Nolan Medeiros (Taunton, Mass.). Junior Tim Gelzinis (N. Dighton, Mass.) scored on an error by Hiram, followed by a single from freshman Alex Hoss (Stafford Springs, Conn.) to load the bases. Junior Aedin Wadja (Lebanon, Conn.) laced an RBI single to knot the game at 3-3, and then junior Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.) knocked a two-run single to push the Blazers ahead 5-3.

Elms erupted in the seventh inning, plating eight runs in the inning to take control of the game. Zima doubled and scored on an RBI single from Gelzinis, followed by a two-run double from Medeiros to extend the Blazers lead to 8-3. After junior Brian Hungerford (New Preston, Conn.) scored on an error, Hoss powered a two-run double to give Elms an 11-3 lead. Hoss scampered home on a passed ball, and then Zima delivered a sacrifice fly to score Wadja, sending the Blazers to the 13-3 win.

The Blazers powered 13 hits in the win, led by Medeiros, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Gelzinis added three hits, Zima knocked in three runs on a 2-for-4 day, and Hoss had two hits. Junior Cody Lemieux (1-0; Torrington, Conn.) went the distance for Elms, allowing three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Chesmar, Engdahl, and Ward tallied two hits apiece for Hiram, while Ward drove in a pair. Chesmar (0-1) took the loss, surrendering five runs, two earned, with eight strikeouts in five innings of work.

Game 2: Elms 2, Hiram 1

The Blazers struck first in the nightcap as Wadja scored on a sacrifice fly from Zima. Hiram threatened in the top of the second putting a runner on third, but Elms freshman Tom Owens (Suffield, Conn.) struck out back-to-back hitters to maintain the Blazers lead.

Hiram evened the score in the top of the third on a bases loaded RBI single from Ward. Owens stalled the Terriers rally with a pair of strikeouts to keep things at 1-1. After two scoreless innings, the Blazers regained control in the bottom of the fifth as Gelzinis knocked a leadoff double, moved to third on a single from sophomore Dan Brunetti (Enfield, Conn.), and then scored on an error by Hiram left fielder freshman Preston Patterson (Uniontown, Ohio).

The Terriers threatened to even the score in the top of the seventh, putting runners on first and third, but Elms senior Brian Langdon (Beacon Falls, Conn.) locked down his second save of the season by inducing a game-ending double play to secure the 2-1 win.

Owens (1-0) registered his first career collegiate victory in his first start, giving up one run on three hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Hiram sophomore Kyle Watson (0-1; Warren, Ohio) took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, with a strikeout.

The Blazers will be back on the diamond in a single game against Baruch College Monday at 9:00 a.m. at Terry Park. The Terriers will face Dominican (Ill.) and Gettysburg (Pa.) Monday afternoon starting at 9:00 a.m.

ELMS BASEBALL