Ten-Run Second Inning Lifts Wesleyan Past Baseball, 15-10

Box Score

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Elms College senior third baseman Brian Marrero (Kendall Park, N.J.) drove in a team-high five runs and senior first baseman Mike Andrews (Greenfield, Mass.) went 3 for 4 at the plate, but a 10-run second inning helped lift Wesleyan University (Conn.) to a 15-10 victory over the Blazers in Tuesday evening's non-conference  baseball game in Middletown, Conn.

With the loss, Elms slides to 4-13 on the season, while Wesleyan improves to 16-6 overall.

Trailing 12-3 heading to the top of the fifth inning, Elms began its rally when senior shortstop Brendan Cordeiro (Berkley, Mass.) reached on a fielding error and then advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Andrews. Marrero then plated both runners with a two-run two-bagger down the right field line bringing the score to 12-5.

Wesleyan answered with three runs in the home half of the frame on the strength of an RBI groundout by David Skura (Beverly Hills, Calif.) and an RBI base hit by Joe Giaimo (Gillette, N.J.) to extend the lead to 15-5.

Elms mounted a furious rally in the top of the sixth inning when freshman center fielder Stephen Fisher (West Boylston, Mass.), junior designated hitter Hector Roche (Bronx, N.Y.) and Cordeiro notched back-to-back-to-back doubles. Andrews then singled to center giving the Blazers runners on the corners for Marrero who reached on a fielding error to plate the third run of the inning. An RBI single by sophomore left fielder Donald Morse (Alfred, Maine) scored another run and a fielding error on the same play allowed a second run to score to bring Elms to within five at 15-10.

From there, Elms' relievers Ryan Burnette (Chicopee, Mass.) and James Kosiorek (Springfield, Mass.), and Wesleyan relievers Kyle Chapman (Northbrook, Ill.) and Giaimo combined to pitch three scoreless innings, preserving the five-run victory for the Cardinals.

Wesleyan reliever Glenn Stowell (Hadley, Mass.), who entered in the second, pitched 3.2 innings and earned the victory to improve to 1-0 on the year.

Elms starting pitcher John Russell (Springfield, Mass.) lasted just an inning and a third and suffered the loss to fall to 0-3 on the season.

The Blazers took an early 2-0 lead when Marrero drew a one-out bases-loaded RBI walk, and Roche scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Wesleyan.

The Cardinals scored one in the home half of the first and then exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the second when Julian Sonnenfeld (Aberdeen, N.J.) drove in three runs, Brice Kelly (Austin, Texas) and Giaimo drove in two runs each, and Kyle Weiss (Niantic, Conn.), Chris Bonti (Tampa, Fla.) and Skura added one RBI each to spark the 10-run, 11-hit frame to post an 11-2 lead.

Elms got a run back in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Marrero, but Wesleyan returned the favor in the bottom of the fourth with a run to make the score 12-3.

Roche and Morse each finished 2 for 5 with an RBI, while Roche scored three runs. Fisher, Cordeiro and Andrews each scored twice, while Fisher added three walks in the losing effort for the Blazers.

All nine Wesleyan batters had multiple-hit outputs, led by Sonnefeld and Giaimo who struck for four hits and three RBI each. Sonnenfeld connected for three doubles and scored three runs, while Nick Gonsalves (Torrance, Calif.) crossed the dish four times in the win.

Elms returns to New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action on Saturday, April 10 when it hosts Becker College in a doubleheader. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass.