Baseball Splits NECC Doubleheader
BASEBALL SPLITS NECC DOUBLEHEADER WITH MITCHELL
HOLYOKE, MA, March 28, 2009 - Junior designated hitter Justin Jacobs (Springhill, FL) delivered a clutch two-run single in the sixth inning and freshman third baseman Nicolino Iavicoli (Hampden, MA) went 2 for 3 with three RBI to help Elms College earn a split of a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) baseball doubleheader with Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon at MacKenzie Stadium.
The Blazers (6-8, 1-1 NECC) lost game one 11-5, but rebounded with a 10-6 win in the nightcap. Mitchell moved to 4-9, 1-1 NECC with the split.
Elms College plated a single run in the first inning, then erupted for five more runs in the second to roar out to a quick 6-0 lead. Sophomore Bob Reyome (Westfield, MA) and sophomore second baseman Brendan Cordeiro (Berkley, MA) each belted RBI singles and Iavicoli added a RBI sacrifice fly to highlight the five-run frame.
Iavicoli smacked a RBI single in the fourth to extend the Blazers' advantage to 7-0.
Mitchell responded with a five-run inning of its own in the fifth to pull to within 7-5, but Elms College put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth that included Jacobs' two-run single.
The Mariners plated a run in the seventh and had one on with one out, but senior closer Joe Esile (Milford, CT) forced a game-ending, double-play to seal the Blazers' split.
Junior pitcher Dan Ingraham (Granby, MA) allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings of work en route to his second win of the year.
In the first game, Iavicoli went 3 for 4 and sophomore shortstop Jonathan Ortiz (Carolina, Puerto Rico) went 2 for 3, but the Mariners jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth and pounded out 15 hits in the victory.
Mitchell plated three runs in the first inning, one each in the second and third, then added two more in the fourth.
Sophomore pitcher Matt Wood (Feeding Hills, MA) threw five solid innings of relief, as he allowed just three earned runs on seven hits and also struck out five.
The Blazers are scheduled to return to non-conference action when they host MCLA in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 29. Game one is set for 12:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium.