Springfield Captures Extra Inning Win Over Baseball

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

HOLYOKE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball squad rallied from a 5-0 deficit, but eventually fell to Springfield College, 10-9, in 10 innings, during a non-conference game at MacKenzie Stadium Monday night. The Blazers dip to 8-15 on the season, while the Pride rise to 12-10 overall.

The two squads combined to crank out 28 hits in the high scoring affair, ignited as Springfield grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with an RBI single from junior Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), who then came around to score on an RBI double by senior Mike Jamieson (New Fairfield, Conn.). The Pride added to their advantage in the fourth behind an RBI sac fly from sophomore Matt Fraioli (Ashland, Mass.), an RBI triple by senior Patrick Coan (Pawcatuck, Conn.), and an RBI single from sophomore Alex Denoyelle (Woonsocket, R.I.) to build a 5-0 gap.

The Blazers began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth, sparked by a leadoff double from senior Kyle Platner (Northfield, Mass.). With two outs and the bases loaded, junior Ben Ross (Thompson, Conn.) ripped a two-run single into right field, and then came around to score on a two-run single by senior Stephen Harrison (Southbury, Conn.) to whittle the Pride lead to 5-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Blazers seized control of the scoreboard with a five-run inning, kicked off with an RBI fielder's choice from Harrison to even the score at 5-5. Harrison scored on a Pride fielding error to hand the Blazers their first lead of the game. With two outs and the bases loaded, senior Brian Hungerford (New Preston, Conn.) smacked a base-clearing triple to right field, pushing Elms ahead 9-5.

Springfield battled back into the game with four runs in the top of the seventh, paced by a two-run single from Fraioli and an RBI single from Coan. Fraioli touched home on a wild pitch to knot the score at 9-9. The Blazers threatened in the bottom of the eighth, but Springfield freshman Zach Kerr (Niskayuna, N.Y.) worked out of a bases loaded jam to preserve the 9-9 scoreboard.

In the 10^th inning, Joao knocked a two-out single through the left side of the infield, advanced on a wild pitch, and the scored on an RBI single from senior JP Peters (Guilford, Conn.). Kerr retired the side in the bottom of the frame to lock up the 10-9 win for the Pride.

Harrison and Hungerford led the Blazers at the plate, driving in three runs each. Senior Aedin Wadja (Lebanon, Conn.) knocked a team-high three hits, while Platner and senior Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.) scored twice in the loss. Freshman Jaeden Rasmus (0-1; Bristol, Conn.) took the loss in relief, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout in two innings of work.

Fraioli knocked in three runs and scored to pace the Pride offense. Coan plated two runs on two hits, while Joao, Peters, Jamieson, and junior Nick LeDuc (Belchertown, Mass.) added two hits apiece in the win. Kerr (2-0) claimed the win in relief, limiting the Blazers to one hit in three scoreless innings with a strikeout.

The Blazers will be back on the diamond tomorrow night when they host Becker College in a New England Collegiate Conference game at 7:00 p.m. Springfield travels to Emerson College for a NEWMAC clash at 4:00 p.m.

ELMS BASEBALL