Late-Inning Rally Lifts Springfield Past Baseball

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

HOLYOKE, Mass. – For the second straight night, the Elms College baseball team was been defeated by a late-inning comeback as the Blazers fell to visiting Springfield College, 5-4, in a non-conference game at MacKenzie Stadium Wednesday night.

After two scoreless innings of play, the Blazers took control of the scoreboard as sophomore Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.) knocked an RBI fielder's choice to stake Elms to a 1-0 lead. The Blazers pushed their lead to 2-0 in the following inning on an RBI sacrifice from Andy Vasquez (Queens, N.Y.).

The Pride cut their deficit in have as Steve Starr (Lebanon, Conn.) delivered an RBI single to center field, and Forrest came up throwing from centerfield to home, making sure the Pride remained down 2-1 in the sixth.

Elms responded in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Ben Ross (Thompson, Conn.) lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, to extend the Blazers lead to 3-1. Springfield threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but Elms sophomore pitcher Cody Lemieux (Torrington, Conn.) induced the inning-ending double play to secure the Blazers 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Elms netted an insurance run as freshman Michael Bombard (Chicopee, Mass.) laced an RBI single through the middle of the diamond, to give the Blazers a 4-1 lead.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Springfield sophomore Peter Marsciano (Allentown, Pa.) came off the bench to pinch hit, where he blasted a two-run double to plate a pair of runs, to trim the Elms lead to 4-3. Marsicano would tie the game at 4-4 as he scored on a passed ball by the Blazers. In the top of the ninth, the Pride had runners on first and third with two outs, when junior Dan Bergami (Schenectady, N.Y.) broke for second base and created a rundown, allowing junior Corey Wilcox (Montville, Conn.) to score from third base, giving the Pride a 5-4 lead. The Blazers were unable to plate any runners in the bottom of the frame, resulting in the 5-4 win for Springfield.

Springfield Kenny Manero (1-0; Hudson, Mass.) earned the win in relief, allowing one hit in two innings of work. Elms junior Kyle Bartlett (1-1; Huntington, Mass.) took the loss, surrendering one run with four walks and a strikeout.

The Blazers will be back on the diamond Thursday night in a New England Collegiate Conference game against Becker College. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Springfield will face WPI at the New England Baseball Complex Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

ELMS BASEBALL