Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Daniel Webster

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

HOLYOKE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball squad split a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) doubleheader with visiting Daniel Webster College to wrap up their home schedule at MacKenzie Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Blazers won the opener, 8-1, and then fell in the nightcap, 7-0.

With the split, Elms moves to 14-14 overall, and 9-8 in the NECC, while Daniel Webster sits at 7-15, and 2-11 on the season.

Prior to the game, Elms honored their departing seniors: Sean Cavanaugh (Wilbraham, Mass.),  Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.), Sean Sinnott (Granby, Conn.), Brendan Begley (Springfield, Mass.), Ty Emet (East Longmeadow, Mass.), Kevin Dwire (Ellington, Conn.), and Geoff Frost (Ludlow, Mass.).

After a scoreless first inning, the Blazers broke through in the second inning, bringing home five runs in the frame. Elms went up 1-0 on an RBI groundout from junior Brian Hungerford (New Preston, Conn.), followed by a two-run double down the right field line by freshman Andy Vasquez (Queens, N.Y) to stake the Blazers to a 3-0 lead. Vasquez came around to score on a wild pitch, and then sophomore Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.) knocked an RBI single to left-centerfield, giving Elms a 5-0 lead.

The Blazers added to their advantage in the third as Vasquez legged out an RBI infield single to shortstop, bringing in Dwire from third base. Junior Brian Hungerford (New Preston, Conn.) came around to score on a fielding error by the Eagles to make it a 7-0 lead for Elms. Freshman Ben Ross (Thompson, Conn.) added an insurance run in the fifth with an RBI groundout, as the Blazers cruised to the 8-1 victory in the opener.

Sinnott (2-2) earned the win for the Blazers, limiting Daniel Webster to one run on two hits with five strikeouts in a complete game effort. Eagles senior righty Ariel Ramos (1-5; Lowell, Mass.) took the loss, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in five innings of work.

In the nightcap, Daniel Webster jumped on the Blazers, plating three runs in the second inning. Eagles junior Chris Martin (Manchester, N.H.) belted an RBI single through the left side of the infield, and then came around to score on a two-run single from senior Dan Ierardi (Dunstable, Mass.) into right-centerfield, giving Daniel Webster a 3-0 advantage.

The Eagles added to their lead in the fourth on a two-run single from sophomore Kelvin Rodriguez (Nashua, N.H.) to push the DWC lead to 5-0. In the fifth, Daniel Webster senior Kyle Brigham (Hudson, N.H.) put the game out of reach as he brought in a pair of runs on a single to centerfield.

Daniel Webster sophomore pitcher Jared Maloney (2-1; Nashua, N.H.) earned the win, dealing seven shutout innings with four strikeouts. Elms freshman Michael Bombard (2-1; Chicopee, Mass.) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

The Blazers and Eagles will return to action in the series finale at Daniel Webster Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.

ELMS BASEBALL