Baseball Loses a Tough Conference Matchup Against Johnson & Wales

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Elms College Baseball team hosted Johnson & Wales University for a conference game on Tuesday afternoon at Mackenzie Stadium.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 4 | Johnson & Wales University 14
Records: Blazers 6-9, 1-1 (GNAC) | Wildcats 10-8, 3-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

First year pitcher/infielder Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) would start for Elms, pitching two innings with four strikeouts. In the first inning, Diaz would strike out two batters, but Johnson & Wales would capitalize after a three-run home run would be hit to left field to take an early 3-0 lead. The Wildcats offense would continue to add to their lead, scoring two runs in the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would record the first hit for the Blazers, after hitting a single to center field. In the top of the third inning, graduate student pitcher Kyle Sebastyanski (Auburn, Mass.) would come into the game to relieve Diaz, as Diaz would be moved to a designated hitter. Sebastyanski would pitch two innings with a strikeout, but JWU would continue to control the game offensively, scoring four additional runs in the top of the third inning. The Elms offense would continue their efforts to score, but their base runners would be left on base or would be caught by the Wildcats defense. In the top of the fifth inning, junior pitcher Justin Saad (Waterford, Conn.) would relieve Sebastyanski, pitching that lone inning and earning a strikeout. In the bottom half of the inning, senior catcher Blake Bastos (Mineola, N.Y.) would come to the plate and hit a lead off home run to left field for the Blazers first run of the game. Senior outfielder George Chaya Jr. (Methuon, Mass.) would hit a single to right field later in the inning, but Johnson & Wales would continue to hold their lead. In the top of the sixth inning, sophomore pitcher Ryan Ziegler (Uncasville, Conn.) would come into the game for Saad, where he would earn a strikeout and get the Wildcats to go down in order. Then in the seventh inning, junior pitcher Jaden Palumbo (Worcester, Mass.) would come into the game, but JWU would score an additional two runs. Then in the bottom half of the inning, junior infielder Chase Prestia (Newington, Conn.) would hit a single down the left field line, followed by a two-run home run by junior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) to right field. The Elms offense would continue to rally during the seventh inning, as graduate student infielder AJ Cook (Mendon, Mass.) would reach base on an error, followed by a single by Chaya Jr. Cook and Chaya Jr. would then steal second and third to get themselves both in scoring position. During the next at-bat, Diaz would strikeout swinging, but due to a wild pitch, he would reach base and Cook would score. In the top of the eighth inning, senior pitcher Devin Kazarian (Westerly, R.I.) would pitch for Palumbo, striking out the first and last batters, but the Wildcats would add an additional three runs. In the bottom half of the inning, Ciaglo would hit a single to right field, but Johnson & Wales would secure the conference victory over the home side, 14-4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bastos: one for four, with a home run, a run scored, and a run batted-in.

• Busca: one for three, with a home run, two runs batted-in, and a run scored.

• Chaya Jr.: two for three, with a stolen base.

• Ciaglo: two for three, with a stolen base.

• Cook: 0 for four, with a run scored.

• Diaz: would pitch two innings with four strikeouts and would go 0 for four at the plate.

• Kazarian: would pitch an inning with two strikeouts.

• Palumbo: would pitch an inning.

• Prestia: one for four, with a run scored.

• Saad: would pitch an inning with a strikeout.

• Sebastyanski: would pitch two innings with a strikeout.

• Ziegler: would pitch an inning with a strikeout.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will travel to the University of Saint Joseph, Conn. on Saturday, March 29th for a conference doubleheader at 12 & 3 pm.

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