Sports Hotline
860-465-5756
NCAA Division III regional tournament
at Falcon Park, Auburn, NY
ALL games in the tournament will have live audio
Thursday, 10 a.m.
WARRIORS vs. Grove City College
Official N.Y. Regional web site
Official NCAA tournament announcement
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
EASTERN BASEBALL BLOWS LEAD, LANDS IN LOSERS' BRACKET
Late four-run lead evaporates as Warriors lose regional tournament opener to Montclair, 8-7
AUBURN, N.Y. -- The Montclair State University baseballteam scored seven runs in its final three at-bats to erase a four-run deficit and post a come-from-behind 8-7 win over Eastern Connecticut State University in the opening game of the NCAA Division III New York Regional Tournament Wednesday morning at Falcon Park.
For Eastern (29-14-1), it is its first loss in the opening game of a regional tournament since 1997 and drops the fifth-seeded Warriors into an elimination game Thursday at 10 a.m. against eighth-seeded Grove City College (18-17). The Wolverines lost their opener to top-seeded SUNY Cortland, 10-1, Thursday. By stopping a three-game losing streak, fourth-seeded Montclair (27-18) faces Cortland (39-3) Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
A four-run seventh inning had staked Eastern to a 7-3 lead, but the Red Hawks countered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff home run and two-out single, and got a go-ahead three-run home run from cleanup hitter Lou Politan with two outs in the eighth to complete their second one-run comeback win over the Warriors this season. On April 1, Montclair came back from a 4-1 deficit to record a 7-6 victory over the Warriors at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
All of Eastern's tournament games will be broadcast live by WILI Radio (1400 AM)
This station is NOT accessible via the internet.
The third of three Eastern pitchers, first-year sophomore righty Chris Wojick (Uncasville) got the final two outs of the seventh inning – helping to diffuse the Montclair rally which produced two runs. Wojick, who had allowed only two earned runs in 19 relief appearances this season, struck out the first two batters of the eighth before walking No. 2 hitter Rob Bowness. A wild pitch and intentional walk put the tying runs aboard before Politan drove a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence to vault the Red Hawks into an 8-7 lead.
After Montclair junior righty Stephen Piscitello (1-1) retired the first two batters of the ninth, senior centerfielder Ismael Bolorin (Manchester) and junior pinch hitter Tristan Hobbes (Utica, NY) singled to put runners on the corners, but Piscitello got a routine fly ball to center to end the game. Piscitello, the team’s starting third baseman, pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to gain the win after having thrown only five innings all season long.
Seven Eastern starters in the game were making their first NCAA starts, including sophomore righty Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI). Making his second start this year against Montclair – and being opposed again by senior lefty Kevin Dalton – Fontaine pitched into the sixth inning. He departed while the Red Hawks were scoring twice ot tie the game at 3-3, having allowed nine hits and two walks while striking out six.
Eastern broke a 3-3 tie by batting around and scoring four runs on two hits, three walks and a hit batsmen in the seventh, but left the bases loaded when leadoff hitter John Parke (Middlefield) lined out to center field. Senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) and sophomore third baseman Melvin Castillo (Danbury) produced the back-to-back hits in the inning. Dalton singled with one out and Castillo knocked him in with a double over the third base bag to give Eastern a 4-3 lead. A throwing error by Montclair catcher Jeff Miller while Castillo was stealing third brought in Castillo to make it 5-3, and after two walks and a hit batseman loaded the bases, two insurance runs scored when second baseman Andrew Himmelfarb was unable to make a play on a ground ball by Bolorin. The third walk of the inning again loaded the bases, but Parke’s hard liner right at centerfielder Michael Nunes ended the inning.
Down by two runs, Montclair remained within striking distance by escaping Eastern threats in both the sixth and eight. In the sixth, the Warriors were foiled on a suicide squeeze bunt after Bolorin had knocked in freshman rightfielder Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) with a triple; in the eighth, the Red Hawks turned an around-the-horn double play to end the inning.
After Bolorin’s run-scoring triple gave the Warriors a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth, Montclair tied the game in the bottom of the inning by scoring two runs, but had the potential go-ahead run cut down at third on a relay from Bolorin to Parke to Castillo when No. 9 hitter Kevin Cuozzi tried advancing to third on his RBI double to left-center.
Castillo and Bolorin each had three hits to pace Eastern’s 14-hit attack. Castillo hit his ninth home run of the year with two out in the first to give the Warriors a quick 1-0 lead. He singled in the third to help the Warriors take a 2-1 lead, drove in a run with the double in the seventh, and walked and stole second in the eighth. He was only retired once in the game after flying out to the base of the right field wall.
Bolorin had his third three-hit game in the last 14. He doubled with two out in the second, tripled in the go-ahead run in the sixth, reached on an error in the four-run seventh, and singled on a 3-2 pitch with two out in the ninth.
The last four meetings between the teams have been decided by one run, with Montclair winning three.
Senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven) is expected to make his ninth start of the season Thursday. Esposito, who allowed only one unearned run in the Little East Conference loss to top-ranked Keene State College last weekend, is 5-2 and has the best ERA (2.10) among starters.
Montclair State U. 8, Eastern Conn. 7
Eastern Conn. (29-14-1) 101 001 400 -- 7 14 2
Montclair State U. (27-18) 010 002 23x -- 8 13 3
Matt Fontaine, Wes Dutton (6), Chris Wojick (8) and Andrew Magliola. Kevin Dalton, Jairo Mendez (7), Stephen Piscitello (7) and Jeff Miller. WP-Piscitello (1-1). LP-Wojick (2-1). 2B-Melvin Castillo, Ismael Bolorin, Magliola (E), Michael Nunes, Rob Bowness, Kevin Cuozzi (M); 3B-Bolorin (E); HR-Castillo (9) (E), Miller (7), Lou Politan (3) (M).
Monday, May 12, 2008
BASEBALL SELECTED FOR 29th NCAA DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
As an at-large pick, Warriors face familiar post-season foe Montclair in Wednesday opener
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Baseball shoots for its sixth regional championship in seven years when it opens play in its 29th NCAA Division III tournament against familiar post-season tournament foe Montclair State University Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the New York Regional Tournament, hosted by Ithaca College at Falcon Park in Auburn, N.Y.
Fifth-seeded Eastern (29-13), fourth-seeded Montclair (26-18), and second-seeded Ithaca College (28-11) were all granted at-large berths in the New York Regional, while top-seeded SUNY Cortland (38-3), third-seeded RPI (30-10), sixth-seeded Farmingdale State College (23-13), seventh-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University (28-17) and eighth-seeded Grove City College (18-16) were automatic qualifiers as conference champions.
Eastern plays the first of four first-round games Wednesday. A win against Montclair in the double-elimination tournament moves the Warriors into a 4:30 p.m. winners’ bracket game Thursday. By losing, Eastern would play an elimination game Thursday at 10 a.m.
In other first-round matchuups, Grove City College meets SUNY Cortland at 1:15 p.m., Farmingdale State faces RPI at 4:30 p.m., and Ohio Wesleyan U. meets Ithaca College at 7:45 p.m. Thursday, the Eastern-Montclair winner squares off against the Grove City-Cortland winner, and the Eastern-Montclair loser faces the Grove City-Cortland loser.
Thirty-four of the 54 tournament teams were automatic qualifiers, with the 20 remaining teams qualifying on an at-large basis. The eight regional championships this week will advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament May 23-27 at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis.
The Warriors are 0-2 against teams in the New York Regional, having lost by a score of 9-4 to Ithaca College in California March 15 and dropping a 7-6 decision to fourth-seeded Montclair State April 1 at home. In all, Eastern is 4-9 against teams chosen to the 54-team tournament, defeating New England Regional qualifiers Keene State and Southern Maine once each in three games, and downing Worcester State and Wheaton College (MA) in its only meeting those teams. Wheaton is seeded second in New England, Keene State third, Southern Maine fourth, and Worcester State seventh
At right: Matt Fontaine
Eastern and Montclair are familiar post-season tournament qualifiers, having met nine times previously. Montclair has won six of the nine. The Red Hawks are 3-0 against Eastern in regional play and the teams have split six meetings in the nationals. In regional tournament play, Montclair beat Eastern 9-0 in their last meeting in 1994 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional at Skylands Park at Augusta, N.J. and swept the Warriors by scores of 8-4 and 13-7 at Eastern’s old Alumni Field en route to the 1984 Northeast Regional championship. The Warriors pounded Montclair State twice in the 1998 national tournament (11-4 and 16-1) en route to the national title. The second win was in the championship round.
Montclair leads the all-time series, 24-13, but the Warriors are 5-3 vs. Montclair on neutral fields.
This past April 1, Montclair beat Eastern by a 7-6 score at the Eastern Baseball Stadium. The Red Hawks hit three home runs in that game, including a tying three-run blast in the sixth inning.
Heading into the Little East Conference tournament last weekend, the Warriors had won 20, lost six and tied one after returning from California. As the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, Eastern split two games. The two-time defending conference tournament champion Warriors were eliminated from the conference tournament on a walk-off single against No. 1 seed Keene State College in the bottom of the ninth inning in the final of the losers’ bracket. Prior to the conference tournament, Eastern had won 17 of 19 games, losing only to undefeated Trinity College (the No. 1 seed in the New England Regional) and splitting a conference doubleheader with the University of Southern Maine.
In its only other appearance in the New York regional in 2006, Eastern survived a second-round loss to top-seeded Cortland State to win six games in five days and defeat Cortland twice in the championship round. It was the fifthof Eastern’s six regional championships in the last seven years. Eastern also downed Ithaca, 14-3, that year in the New York regional.
The Warriors have won four national titles (most recently in 2002) and the Red Hawks have captured three (most recently in 2000).
Eastern is batting .321 as a team with a 3.96 pitching ERA and .945 fielding percentage. Montclair is batting .312 with a 5.66 ERA and .958 fielding percentage.
Montclair has played nearly 40 per cent of its games this year against teams ranked in the current ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll. The Red Hawks are 7-10 against those teams. The Warriors are 2-6 against nationally-ranked teams.
Eastern’s top starting pitchers are senior righties Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) and Joe Esposito (East Haven), and sophomore righty Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI) . The trio has combined on a 13-6 record. First-year sophomore Chris Wojick (Uncasville) is the closer. Wojick is 2-0 with six saves and a 0.52 ERA in 19 appearances. Fontaine, who allowed eight hits and four earned runs over 5 2/3 inning without a decision against Montclair when the teams met in the regular season, is expected to open on the mound. In his next start following the Montclair game, Fontaine fanned 17 batters against Western Connecticut.
Seven regulars are batting over .300, led by senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) (.394), junior DH Shawn Gilblair (Windham) (.385), sophomore shortstop John Parke (Middlefield) (.369) and freshman first baseman Andrew Dewing (Swampcott, MA) (.369).
All nine of Montclair’s regular pitchers are available out of the bullpen. Senior lefty Kevin Dalton (3-1, 4.18) leads the Montclair State staff with 64 2/3 innings, having started eight games and having relieved in nine. Miller started for the Red Hawks in their regular-season win over Eastern. He did not allow an earned run nor a walk over the first five innings, surrendering only four this. He did not figure in the decision.
For Montclair, senior righty Tim Stringer (5-5, 5.95) has started a staff-high nine games but has also come out of the bullpen nine times;senior righty Jairo Mendez (3-2, 5.16) has started eight games and relieved in five; junior lefty Michael Vitale (4-3, 5.40) has started in seven of his 16 appearances and senior D.J. Cunningham (3-3, 9.07) has started in seven of his 17 outings. Senior righty Marty Cabalar (2-1, 6.04), credited with the win against Eastern with 2 1/3 relief innings, has come out the bullpen in 18 of his 19 appearances. Junior righties William Traverso (0-0, 3.74) and Michael Streaman (0-1, 3.79) have the staff’s best ERAs and have been used exclusively out of the bullpen in a combined total of 34 showings.
Senior catcher Jeff Miller (.416), who had four hits and two home runs against the Warriors, is Montclair’s leading hitter. Senior first baseman Lou Politan (.396) and junior Ed Kloepping (.379) follow Miller in batting. Miller has a team-high 43 RBI and Kloepping tops the club with eight home runs.
Montclair was 3-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament which ended may 5. The Red Hawks won three straight after an opening loss before absorbing a 12-4 loss to 2007 national titlist Kean University Monday. Montclair ended the regular season with 12-0, 5-4 losses to Ithaca over the weekend at Ithaca, NY. In addition to their games against Eastern and Ithaca in the regular season, Montclair lost twice to Cortland State (11-2, 8-4) March 21 at Yogi Berra Stadium and defeated RPI (16-11) April 16 at Troy, NY.
2008 NCAA DIVISION III BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
NEW YORK REGIONAL
(double elimination)
Hosted by Ithaca College
at Falcon Park, Auburn, NY
Wednesday, May 14-Sunday, May 18
Seeds
1. SUNY Cortland (38-3); 2. Ithaca College (28-11); 3. RPI (30-10); 4. Montclair State U. (26-18); 5. EASTERN CONN. (29-13); 6. Farmingdale State College (23-13); 7. Ohio Wesleyan U. (28-17); 8. Grove City College (18-16).
Wednesday, May 14
Game 1: EASTERN CONN. vs. Montclair State U., 10 a.m.
Game 2: Grove City College vs. SUNY Cortland, 1:15 p.m.
Game 3: Farmingdale State College vs. RPI, 4:30 p.m.
Game 4: Ohio Wesleyan U. vs. Ithaca College, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 15
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1:15 p.m.
Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:45 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Game 8 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 1:15 p.m.
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
Game 15: If necessary, 1 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 2008
BASEBALL ELIMINATED IN LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Top-seeded Keene State scores only run of game in ninth to knock out Warriors
KEENE, N.H. – Number nine hitter Ryan Jones of Keene State College ended a classic pitching duel with a two-out, game-ending single in the bottom of the ninth that eliminated the second-seeded Warriors from the 2008 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament Friday afternoon in a 1-0 loss at Owl Athletic Complex.
With the win, Keene (32-9) advanced to the championship round of the tournament for the third straight year, where it had been beaten by Eastern both previous times. The Owls must defeat undefeated and third-seeded University of Southern Maine twice in the double-elimination tournament to claim its first conference tournament title in the 12-year history of the tournament.
In Friday’s first game, Southern Maine won the all-important winners’ bracket final with an 8-4 victory over Keene State that moved the Huskies to within a win of its third LEC championship. Southern Maine has not won the title since capturing two of the first three, the most recent one coming in 1999. After being dismanted by Southern Maine by a score of 14-3 Thursday, Eastern had remained alive with a 9-5 win over Massachusetts Boston earlier Friday.
Hitless in three previous plate appearances, Jones rapped a single up the middle with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to chase home Greg Ford with the only run of the game. With one out, Ford singled, moved to second on a passed ball, and raced home on Jones’ single.
Keene State’s Jamie Morin (5-0) remained undefeated this year by outdueling Eastern senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven). Both pitchers went the distance, with Morin allowing only three hits while fanning 15 and walking two. Esposito gave up seven hits while fanning eight and walking four.
Eastern had advanced earlier in the day with its second win in as many days over fifth-seeded UMass Boston (16-24). Junior righty James Kukucka (Vernon) and freshman righty Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) combined on a seven-hitter. The Warriors never trailed in the game and broke from a 3-3 tie with two runs in the third and three more in the middle innings. Sophomore All-America third baseman Melvin Castillo (Danbury) scored four runs, drove in two and belted his eighth home run of the year leading off the eighth. Castillo reached in his first five plate appearances with three hits, a walk and a UMass error. Freshman first baseman Andrew Dewing (Swampscott, MA) reached safely three times with a hit and two walks and scored three times.
In four tournament games, Eastern batted .217 with a 5.05 pitching ERA and .961 fielding average. Senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME), sophomore shortstop John Parke (Middlefield), and sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) each had four hits, with Dewing and Castillo each scoring four times, and junior catcher Andrew Magliola (East Haven) driving in three runs. Parke and Dewing also walked five times each.
Eastern awaits a probably at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament when invitations are extended Monday.
Eastern Conn. 9, Massachusetts 6
Eastern Conn. (29-12-1) 032 021 010 -- 9 10 2
UMass Boston (16-26) 030 000 111 -- 6 7 3
James Kukucka (5-1), Jim Schult (7) and Andrew Magliola. Mike Cain (4-4), Patrick McCarthy (5), Mike Andriano (6), Anthony Lauretto (8) and Tim Fontaine. Save-Schult (1). 2B-Tristan Hobbes (E), Ryan Walsh (MB); HR-Melvin Castillo (8) (E).
Keene State College 1, Eastern Conn. 0
Eastern Conn. (29-13-1) 000 000 000 -- 0 3 1
Keene State (32-9) 000 000 001 -- 1 7 2
Two out when winning run scored.
Joe Esposito (5-2) and Andrew Magliola. Jamie Morin (5-0) and Anthony Cipolla. 2B-Travis Bass (E), Tyler DiPrato (K).
Thursday, May 8, 2008
IN LEC TOURNEY, SOUTHERN MAINE ROLLS PAST WARRIORS, 14-3
Combining hitting, pitching and defense, Huskies send them into losers' bracket
KEENE, N.H. – A month ago, Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Southern Maine split a hotly-contested Little East Conference regular-season doubleheader at Gorham, Maine.
In the second round of the LEC tournament Thursday at the Owl Athletic Complex on the Keene State College campus, it was no contest. Third-seeded Southern Maine (31-10) collected 21 hits – the most allowed by second-seeded Eastern this season – got a complete-game pitching effort from sophomore lefty Mark Schmidt, and played flawless defense in a 14-3 victory that sends Eastern (28-12-1) into the losers’ bracket needing four wins in two days to claim its third straight LEC tournament title.
Southern Maine, looking for its first LEC tournament title since 1999, is scheduled to meet top-seeded Keene State College Friday at 9 a.m. in the finals of the winners’ bracket featuring the tournament’s only remaining unbeaten (2-0) teams. The winner of that game moves into the championship round Saturday needing only one win to earn the automatic bid awarded the champion.
Eastern begins an uphill climb Friday at noon against fifth-seeded Massachusetts Boston (16-25). The winner of that game returns to play the Southern Maine-Keene State loser Friday at 3 p.m. in an elimination game. After sustaining a 6-5 loss to Eastern Wednesday in the opening round, UMass bounced back to eliminate sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University Thursday morning, 10-9. Keene eliminated fourth-seeded Rhode Island College, 14-8, in Thursday’s second game.
Eastern has won six of 11 LEC tournament titles to date, with Southern Maine having won two (of the first three). Keene has lost in the championship round each of the last two years to Eastern and is chasing its first LEC tournament title.
Having experienced significant success against Southern Maine in his career -- including a regular-season win this year (eight hits, two earned run in 7 1/3 innings) Eastern senior right-handed ace Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) was knocked from the game Thursday while the Huskies were scoring six runs in the sixth to turn a three-run lead into a 11-2 rout. Jagodzinski (8-3) was charged with ten hits and seven runs (six earned) while striking out only one and walking one.
Although Schmidt (5-0) was making his first start this year against Eastern, he had proven to be effective with 5 2/3 innings of two-hit relief (four strikeouts, no walks) in the Huskies’ 4-2 win over the Warriors in the first game of this year’s regular-season doubleheader. Schmidt became the fourth pitcher this year to go the distance against Eastern. Backed by strong offense, Schmidt walked six but gave up only eight hits while fanning four. Only one of the walks came back to haunt Schmidt,who gave a free pass to Eastern sophomore shortstop John Parke (Middlefield) to open the first inning. Parke scored from second when senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) followed with an RBI double. Parke and Dalton each finished with two hits.
The bottom third of the Southern Maine batting order was lethal against Jagodzinski and three subsequent relievers. Ryan Pike, Ryan Gaffney and Josh Mackey – batting 7-8-9 – combined for ten hits, drove in five runs and scored seven. Pike had five hits and Mackey three – each also hitting a home run -- and leadoff hitter Chris Burleson contributed four hits to pace the Huskies’ high-octane offense.
Senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven) is available to start Friday’s game against UMass Boston. Esposito is 5-1 in 42 2/3 inning with the best ERA (2.53) among starters.
U. of Southern Maine 14, Eastern Conn. 3
Southern Maine (31-10) 031 106 102 -- 14 21 0
Eastern Conn. (28-12-1) 101 000 001 -- 3 8 2
Mark Schmidt (5-0) and Jordan Berthiaume. Jimmy Jagodzinski (8-3), Ronnie Newkirk (6), Wes Dutton (6), Michael Montanari (6) and Andrew Magliola. 2B-Chris Burleson, Ryan Pike, Josh Mackey (S), Jon Dalton, Andrew Dewing (E); HR-Eddie Skeffington (6), Ryan Pike (7), Josh Mackey (5) (S), Jim Schult (2) (E).
EASTERN CONN. STATE U.
U. of Southern Maine at Eastern Connecticut
May 08, 2008 at Keene, NH (Owl Athletic Complex)
U. of Southern Maine 14 (31-10) Eastern Connecticut 3 (28-12-1)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Chris Burleson ss.......... 6 2 4 2 John Parke ss.............. 3 2 2 0
Andrew Stacy dh............ 5 1 1 0 Jon Dalton lf.............. 4 0 2 1
Josh Stowell ph........... 1 1 1 1 Melvin Castillo 3b......... 3 0 0 0
Collin Henry 1b............ 5 1 2 0 Travis Horrigan 3b........ 0 0 0 0
Anthony D'Alfonso lf....... 6 1 2 3 Andrew Dewing 1b........... 3 0 1 1
Jordan Berthiaume c........ 6 0 0 1 Trey Bongiovanni dh........ 4 0 0 0
Eddie Skeffington rf....... 6 1 1 1 Jim Schult rf.............. 4 1 1 1
Ryan Pike cf............... 5 3 5 2 Travis Bass 2b............. 4 0 1 0
Ryan Gaffney 3b............ 4 2 2 1 Ismael Bolorin cf.......... 2 0 0 0
Josh Mackey 2b............. 5 2 3 2 Zack Thomas ph............ 1 0 0 0
Mark Schmidt p............. 0 0 0 0 Lenny Meldon cf........... 1 0 0 0
Andrew Magliola c.......... 1 0 0 0
Mike Palo ph.............. 1 0 0 0
Chris Cannata ph.......... 1 0 1 0
Jimmy Jagodzinski p........ 0 0 0 0
Ronnie Newkirk p.......... 0 0 0 0
Wes Dutton p.............. 0 0 0 0
Michael Montanari p....... 0 0 0 0
Totals..................... 49 14 21 13 Totals..................... 32 3 8 3
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
U. of Southern Maine 031 106 102 - 14 21 0
Eastern Connecticut. 101 000 001 - 3 8 2
-------------------------------------------
E - Parke 2. DP - USM 1. LOB - USM 10; ECSU 8. 2B - Burleson; Pike; Mackey; Dalton;
Dewing. HR - Skeffington; Pike; Mackey; Schult. SB - D'Alfonso; Pike. CS - Dalton.
U. of Southern Maine IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Schmidt W,5-0........ 9.0 8 3 3 6 4 0 1 0 0 32 38 14 6
Eastern Connecticut IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jimmy Jagodzinski L,8-3... 5.0 10 7 6 1 1 1 0 0 0 25 26 6 8
Ronnie Newkirk ............ 0.0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0
Wes Dutton ................ 0.1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0
Michael Montanari ......... 3.2 8 3 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 20 20 1 6
WP - Jagodzinski. BK - Schmidt. PB - Magliola.
Strikeouts - Burleson; Stacy 2; D'Alfonso; Skeffington; Mackey; Bongiovanni; Bolorin
2; Meldon. Walks - Henry; Gaffney; Parke 2; Dalton; Castillo; Dewing; Magliola.
Umpires -
Start: 4:45 pm Time: 3:00 Attendance: 200
Game: ECBB0508
little east conference
2008 Baseball Tournament
(Double elimination)
Wednesday, May 7-Saturday, May 10
at Keene, NH
(Keene State College host)
Seeds
- Keene State College (28-8); 2. EASTERN CONN. (27-11-1); 3. U. of Southern Maine (29-10); 4. Rhode Island College (24-13); 5. Massachusetts Boston (15-24); 6. Western Conn. (17-22).
Wednesday, May 7
Game 1: Keene State College 2, Western Conn. 1 (10)
Game 2: EASTERN CONN. 6, Massachusetts Boston 5
Game 3: Southern Maine 6, Rhode Island College 5
Thursday, May 8
Game 4: Massachusetts Boston 10, Western Conn. 9 (Western Conn. eliminated)
Game 5: Keene State College 14, Rhode Island College 8 (R.I. College eliminated)
Game 6: Southern Maine 14, EASTERN CONN. 3
Friday, May 9
Game 7: Keene State College (2-0) vs. Southern Maine (2-0), 9 a.m.
Game 8: EASTERN CONN. (1-1) vs. Massachusetts Boston (1-1), noon (loser eliminated)
Game 9: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 3 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Saturday, May 10
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, noon
Game 11: (if necessary), 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
BASEBALL ADVANCES IN LEC TOURNAMENT WITH COMEBACK WIN
Two-run home runs erase two-run deficits as Warriors overcome UMB, 6-5
KEENE,N.H. – Left-handed hitters Ismael Bolorin (Manchester) and Andrew Smiley (North Kingstown, RI) hit the first two home runs allowed by University of Massachusetts Boston senior right-hander Nick Conway this season to help baseball rally for a 6-5 win in the opening round of the 2008 Little East Conference tournament Wednesday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex on the Keene State College campus.
At right: Andrew Smiley
A winner of eight straight, second-seeded Eastern (28-11-1) advances in the winners’ bracket of the six-team double-elimination tournament to face No. 3 seed University of Southern Maine Thursday at 3 p.m. USM advanced by an identical 6-5 in Wednesday’s late game against No. 4 seed Rhode Island College, scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull out the win. Top-seeded Keene State College avoided an upset with a 2-1, 10-inning win over No. 6 seed Western Connecticut State University in Wednesday’s first game and will meet Rhode Island College Thursday at noon. Western faces UMass Boston Thursday at 9 a.m. in an elimination game.
Against fifth-seeded UMass Boston (15-25), Smiley, a reserve rightfielder, belted a two-run homer – the first of his caraeer – to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, and senior centerfielder Bolorin hit a two-run home run to tie the game 4-4 in the sixth. In the eighth, junior catcher and No. 9 hitter Andrew Magliola (East Haven) drove in his 19th run of the season with just his 22nd hit – an opposite-field double down the right-field line to drive in first-year sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) from second to snap a 5-5 tie.
The home runs were the first allowed by Conway this season. The 2006 LEC Pitcher-of-the-Year had allowed only nine extra-base hits (all doubles) in 48 2/3 innings this year. Conway had pitched a complete-game four-hitter during the regular season in his team’s 3-2 win over Eastern.
After Bolorin’s game-tying home run – his fourth round-tripper of the year – in the sixth, the Warriors surged ahead, 5-4, with an unearned run. Bass doubled with one out and scored from second on an infield error off the bat of Magliola. UMass tied the game 5-5 and chased Eastern sophomore righty starter Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI) in the top of the seventh on a leadoff single and two-out RBI double by Andrew Tambling. The game-tying double came off right-handed reliever Chris Wojick (Uncasville), a first-year sophomore transfer from the University of Maine.
Shooting for his sixth straight win, Fontaine did not figure in the decision. The staff leader with six saves, Wojick gained his second win in two decisions by pitching the final 2 2/3 innings. With the game tied, Wojick allowed a leadoff single in the eighth but Bass started a double play at second to end the threat. Wojick retired the side in order in the ninth, fanning the final two batters swinging.
Making only his third start of the year, Smiley drove in two runs and scored one. With a double and home run, Bolorin was the only player with two hits. He drove in two with the home run and scored twice.
UMass, denied its first two-game winning streak in a month, got two hits from cleanup hitter Tim Fontaine and two from Casey Rice.
Eastern Conn. 6, UMass Boston 5
UMass Boston (15-25) 020 020 100 -- 5 9 2
Eastern Conn. (28-11-1) 020 003 010 -- 6 7 1
Nick Conway (3-4), Tom Michael (8) and Tim Fontaine. Matt Fontaine, Chris Wojick (7) and Andrew Magliola. WP-Wojick (2-0). 2B-Andrew Tambling, Mike Dorval (M), Ismael Bolorin, Travis Bass, Magliola (E); HR-Bolorin (4), Andrew Smiley (1) (E).
Saturday, May 3, 2008
BASEBALL CLOSES REGULAR SEASON WITH SWEEP
Still contending to host LEC tournament, Warriors have won 17 of their last 19
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The door to hosting next week’s Little East Conference tournament remains open after the Warriors swept Plymouth State University by scores of 4-2 and 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Panther Park on the PSU campus.
Keene State swept Rhode Island College Sunday evening to win the LEC regular-season title with a 12-2 record and will host the LEC tournament beginning Wednesday.
Ranked 28th nationally and fourth in New England, Eastern (27-11-1, 11-3 little east) winds up its conference season in a tie for second place with the University of Southern Maine and can clinch the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament if conference leader Keene State College (10-2) is unable to sweep visiting Rhode Island College in a makeup doubleheader Sunday afternoon. If Keene is unable to sweep, Eastern will finish with a share of the LEC regular-season title and will gain the top seed based on its sweep of fourth-seeded Rhode Island College earlier this year (neither Keene nor Southern Maine will have swept RIC). The Warriors have won or shared nine of 11 regular-season titles.
Senior righty Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) struck out a career-high 12 batters en route to his staff-leading eighth win of the season in the opener, and three pitchers combined on a three-hitter in the nightcap as Eastern extended its winning streak over Plymouth State (12-26, 3-11 little east) in this series to 16.
A six-time LEC tournament champion, Eastern chases its fifth LEC tournament crown in six years having won its last seven, 13 of 14, and 17 of 19. Eastern’s only losses over that stretch came in a split with Southern Maine and a loss to Trinity College, which entered play Saturday without a loss this year.
Now 18-4 lifetime, Jagodzinski (8-2) did not walk a batter for the third straight start en route to his fifth straight win. In his last three starts covering 24 2/3 innings, Jagodzinski has struck out 30. Saturday, he carried a 4-0 shutout into the ninth before Plymouth scored two unearned runs on two hits and an error.
Senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven) gave up only three singles in seven innings in the nightcap, fanning nine and walking four. Esposito (5-1) retired 11 straight in the early stages of the second game and carried a one-hitter into the sixth.
Senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) extended his hitting streak to 11 by collecting two hits in each game. He had four hits, three RBI and two runs scored. In seven games since winning the starting left field position, Dalton is batting .545 (18-for-33) with 12 runs scored and ten RBI. He leads regulars with a season batting average of .427.
Junior DH Shawn Gilblair (Windham) – last year’s Division III national Player-of-the-Year -- belted his team-leading 11th home run of the season – a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning of the first game. Gilblair needs one home run to become the first player in program history with 20 pitching wins (he is 20-6 lifetime) and 20 home runs. Gilblair had four hits, two runs and two RBI in the doubleheader.
Sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter John Parke (Middlefield) also had four hits in the doubleheader, and sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) had three hits, two RBI and two runs. In the second game, Bass was 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. He drove in the first two runs of the game with a second-inning single.
In the first game, Parke, Dalton and Gilblair each had two hits, with Dalton and Gilblair driving in two runs each.
Game 1
Eastern Conn. 4, Plymouth State U. 2
Eastern Conn. (26-11-1, 10-3 little east) 003 000 010 -- 4 8 1
Plymouth State (12-25, 3-10 little east) 000 000 002 -- 2 10 1
Jimmy Jagodzinski (8-1) and Andrew Magliola. Chip Hale (3-3) and John Pogorzelski. 2B-Jon Dalton (E), Steve Picco (P); HR-Shawn Gilblair (11) (E).
Game 2
Eastern Conn. 7, Plymouth State 0
Eastern Conn. (27-11-1, 11-3 little east) 030 211 000 --7 12 2
Plymouth State (12-26, 3-11 little east) 000 000 000 --0 3 1
Joe Esposito (5-1), Michael Montanari (8), Ronnie Newkirk (9) and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (8). John Andersch (1-6), Taylor Ketchum (5), Ryan Lavelle (6), Justin Flanagan (8) and Dan Eagan. 2B-Travis Bass (E).
Thursday, May 1, 2008
FONTAINE’S PITCHING LIFTS BASEBALL PAST WHEATON
Sophomore righty contributes quality start as Warriors stop No. 12 Lyons, 2-1
MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore righty Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI) limited No. 12 nationally-ranked Wheaton College (MA) to three singles in pitching into the seventh inning to help lift baseball to a 2-1 victory in the final regular-season home game of the year for the Warriors.
The win is the fifth straight and 15 in the last 17 contests for Eastern (25-11-1), ranked 28th nationally and fifth in New England. Wheaton (31-8), ranked No. 12 nationally and second in New England, had a seven-game win streak ended in losing to the Warriors after winning the last two games in the series by one run each time. Last weekend, Wheaton qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament for the eighth time in nine years by winning the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference tournament.
At right: Matt Fontaine
A winner of five straight decisions after a season-opening loss, Fontaine retired the first 11 batters in order and took a one-hitter into the seventh before giving way to first-year sophomore righty Chris Wojick (Uncasville) after surrendering one-out singles in the seventh. Wojick got No. 8 hitter Eric Laliberte (Nashua, NH) to line into a double play to leave the tying runs aboard in the seventh. Wojick got a swinging strikeout to end the eighth with two runners on, and gave up a one-out solo home run in the ninth by Jeff Lieneck (Foxboro, MA) that cut Eastern’s lead in half. Sean Buckley (Webster, MA) singled after Lieneck’s homer but was stranded on second when Wojick got a ground ball to end the game.
Eastern snapped a scoreless duel between Fontaine and Wheaton senior lefty Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA) by scoring twice in the fifth with two out on three singles, a sacrifice bunt and an error. Tristan Hobbes singled to start the inning and later scored on an infield error. Ismael Bolorin (Manchester) scored on an RBI single by No. 9 hitter Andrew Magliola (East Haven) to make it 2-0.
Lieneck and Buckley were the only two hitters in the Wheaton lineup with hits. Lieneck upped his batting average to .366 with three hits, and Buckley added two. Eastern’s Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) stretched his hitting streak to nine by collecting three hits, with Hobbes adding two. Dalton is hitting .565 (13-for-23) in his last five games.
Fontaine gave up only three hits and two walks while fanning eight to give him a staff-leading 73 strikeouts.
For the first time in 14 games, Eastern played without an error.
Eastern closes out the regular season Saturday with a noon Little East Conference doubleheader at Plymouth State University.
Eastern Conn. 2, Wheaton College (MA) 1
Wheaton College (31-8) 000 000 001 -- 1 5 2
Eastern Conn. (25-11-1) 000 020 00x -- 2 10 0
Chris McDonough (5-3), Jared Barnes (8), Chad Kasik (8), Josh Simmons (8) and Jeff Lieneck. Matt Fontaine (5-1), Chris Wojick (7) and Andrew Magliola. Save: Wojick (6). HR-Lieneck (4) (W).
Saturday, April 26, 2008
BASEBALL ROUTS UMASS DARTMOUTH IN LEC SWEEP
Warriors record 17 extra-base hits in 22-6, 11-6 conference sweep of Corsairs
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Sophomore outfielder John Parke (Middlefield) had seven hits and junior first baseman Tristan Hobbes (Utica, NY) and freshman DH Andrew Dewing (Swampscott, MA) both hit two home runs and drove in six runs to help carry baseball to a 22-6, 11-6 Little East Conference doubleheader sweep of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday afternoon. at the UMD Athletic Complex.
At right: John Parke
A winner of 13 of its last 15, Eastern (23-11-1, 8-3 little east), collected 17 extra-base hits in the doubleheader – 11 doubles, five home runs and a triple – and batted .441 (41-for-93) as a team). UMass Dartmouth (3-31, 1-11 little east) lost for the 88th time in 111 games in this series which dates back to 1972.
For Eastern, 14 players contributed at least one hit – six recording three or more hits – with 13 knocking in a run and 16 scoring a run for Eastern, which remains in the hunt for its tenth LEC regular-season title in 12 years.
Parke, who has hit safely in 26 of his last 27 games, was 7-for-10 with four runs and two RBI in the sweep; Hobbes and Dewing were both 4-for-9 with a double, two home runs and six RBI. Hobbes also reached twice by walk and scored five runs, Dewing scoring four times.
Sophomore All-America shortstop Melvin Castillo (Danbury) was 4-for-11 with five RBI and four runs. He had a double and triple.
In the first game, junior right-hander Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) won his staff-leading seventh game of the year against two losses (17-4 lifetime). He allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) with ten strikeouts and no walks over the first eight innings. Sophomore righty Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI) worked the opening six innings of the nightcap to improve to 4-1 this year. Fontaine gave up six hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out eight and walking one.
Eastern is currently 1 ½ games behind LEC leader Keene State (10-2). The Warriors have three conference games remaining while Keene closes out its conference regular season Saturday against Rhode Island College (8-4).
Eastern visits Western Connecticut State University Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game 1
Eastern Conn. 28, UMass Dartmouth 6
Eastern Conn. (22-11-1, 7-3 little east) 500 316 148 -- 28 26 3
UMass Dartmouth (3-30, 1-10 little east) 200 200 002 -- 6 11 3
Jimmy Jagodzinski (7-2), Wes Dutton (9) and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (8). Chris Contre (0-8), Scott Tibbets (6), Nial Mitchell (7), Tyler Noyes (9) and Matt Ryan, Eric Rodriguez (8). 2B-Andrew Smiley, Melvin Castillo, Andrew Dewing, Pat Smith (E), Pete Grillo, Dave McGuire, Kevin Nerey (MD); 3B-Castillo (E); HR-Dewing 2, Tristan Hobbes, Smith (E), Dylan Zygmont, Mike Mitchell (MD).
Game 2
Eastern Conn. 11, UMass Dartmouth 6
Eastern Conn. (23-11-1, 8-3 little east) 113 020 301 -- 11 15 2
UMass Dartmouth (3-31, 1-11 little east) 012 200 100 -- 6 9 4
Matt Fontaine (4-1), Ronnie Newkirk (7), Chris Wojick (8) and Andrew Magliola. Brian Pedrotti, Shane Campbell (7) and Matt Ryan. 2B-Ismael Bolorin 2, John Parke 2, Jon Dalton, Tristan Hobbes, Jim Schult (E); 3B-Pete Grillo (MD); HR-Hobbes (E).
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
TRINITY COLLEGE BASEBALL BATTERS WARRIORS BY 17-2
First seven batters of game score runs for Bantams, who win 28th straight game
MANSFIELD, Conn. – The first seven batters in the Trinity College lineup scored runs as the Bantams jumped to a quick start and breezed past baseball, 17-2, Tuesday night at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
The win is the 28th without a loss for Trinity, which collected 17 hits against six Eastern (20-11-1) pitchers. The Bantams are ranked second nationally in the ABCA Division III poll, released today, just one point behind top-ranked Chapman University. The Warriors had made their first appearance in the poll – at 28th – on the heels of a six-game winning streak that was servered by Trinity.
The victory is the most lopsided in the 27-game series, erasing Eastern’s 14-3 victory a year ago at Hartford.
Eastern senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven), who allowed only six hits and three runs in last year’s win over Trinity, did not retire a batter before giving way to junior righty Michael Montanari (Newington). Esposito (2-1) gave up hits to the first five batters, then walked two before departing. Junior catcher Sean Killeen and sophomore first baseman Kent Graham each drove in a run to spark the first-inning rally. A bases loaded walk, an outfield error and a two-run single by No. 9 hitter Tim Bourdon also accounted for runs.
Ten different Trinity batters had hits in the game, with eight driving in runs and eight scoring runs. Killeen, the No. 3 batter, was 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs; Graham collected four hits, scored three runs and drove in a run; sophomore rightfielder James Wood had two this, scored three runs and drove in three. Bourdon drove in three runs and senior pinch hitter Matt Stafford two.
Making his fifth start, sophomore righty Jeremiah Bayer gave up only four hits and one run while fanning eight to earn his fifth victory. Three Trinity pitchers did not issue a walk.
Eastern hosts Wesleyan University Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Trinity College (CT) 17, Eastern Conn. 2
Trinity College (28-0) 720 011 051 -- 17 17 1
Eastern Conn. (20-11-1) 000 100 010 -- 2 6 5
Jeremiah Bayer (5-0), Jon Rappaport (8), Eric McGrath (9) and Sean Killeen, Stephen Bernstorf (9). Joe Esposito (2-1), Michael Montanari (1), Wes Dutton (6), Jake Slate (8), Travis Horrigan (8), Jim Schult (9) and Andrew Magliola, Joe Klein (8). 2B-Killeen (T), Jon Dalton (E); 3B-Travis Bass (E); HR_James Wood (8) (T).
Sunday, April 20, 2008
WARRIORS SPELL 22-7 ROUT OF WORCESTER T-E-A-M
In non-conference victory, a dozen players drive in runs and score runs
WORCESTER, Mass. – Seven batters had two or more hits in a 22-hit attack that propelled the Warriors to a 22-7 conquest of Worcester State College Sunday afternoon at H.L. Rocheleau Field on the campus of Assumption College.
The win is the sixth straight and tenth in the last 11 outings for Eastern (20-10-1) and is the 17th victory in 20 contests against Worcester State (14-15) under head coach Bill Holowaty. The 22 hits equals the team’s high for the season and marks the eighth game of at least ten hits in the last ten for the Warriors, who are batting.367 in that stretch.
Senior centerfielder Ismael Bolorin (Manchester), ranked second nationally a year ago in triples per game, led off the game with his first triple of the season that opened the doors for a five-run first inning. Sophomore leftfielder John Parke (Middlefield) followed with a double to plate Bolorin with the first run and sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) later added a two-run single in the inning.
Staked to a five-run lead before taking the mound, junior righty James Kukucka (Vernon) breezed to his fourth win of the year in five decisions. Kukucka allowed one earned run on seven hits over the first six innings, fanning three and walking three. For Eastern, 13 different players had at least one hit and 12 drove in a run and 12 scored a run.
Against Worcester, the top six hitters in the order – four of them starters and two of the reserves – combined to amass 13 hits, drive in 11 runs and score ten . Bolorin reached base five times with three hits and two walks, scored four runs and drove in one. He also had a sacrifice fly. Parke, who had 21-game hitting streak snapped in Saturday’s second-game win over Rhode Island College, matched Bolorin with three hits while driving in two runs and scoring one. Batting fourth in the order in place of injured All-America junior Shawn Gilblair (Windham), freshman Andrew Dewing (Swampscott, MA) had two hits, scored two runs and drove in two runs, while freshman rightfielder Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) tripled and singled and scored twice.
A last-minute replacement at third base, sophomore Mike Palo (Brookfield) reached safely three times with a hit and two walks. Batting eighth in the order, Palo drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and a two-run double in the fifth and walked and scored in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Junior outfielder Lenny Meldon (Brookfield) and sophomore infielder Travis Horrigan (Roxbury) came off the bench to collect two hits each. Meldon drove in three runs with a single in the eighth and a two-run double in the ninth, and Horrigan plated two with an eighth-inning single.
In the team’s last ten games, first-year players Bass (.436), Schult (.419) and Dewing (.400) lead the club in hitting.
Eastern hosts nationally-ranked Trinity College Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Eastern Conn. 22, Worcester State 7
Eastern Conn. (20-10-1) 500 171 044 -- 22 22 2
Worcester State (14-15) 000 110 230 -- 7 14 3
James Kukucka (4-1), Wes Dutton (7), Ronnie Newkirk (8), Michael Montanari (9) and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (7). Joel Brierley (1-4), Josh Buzzell (5), Kevin Hayes (7), Matt Hart (8), John Flaherty (9) and John Hinkell. 2B-John Parke, Lenny Meldon, Mike Palo (E), Ryan LaPrade, Peter Ferrelli (W); 3B-Ismael Bolorin, Jim Schult (E); HR_Hinkell (1) (W).
Saturday, April 19, 2008
BASEBALL SWEEPS LEC LEADER RHODE ISLAND, 8-5, 19-8
For Warriors, seven-run fourth inning paves way for second-game rout
MANSFIELD, Conn. – Baseball pounded out 27 hits off nine pitchers in sweeping Little East Conference leader Rhode Island College Saturday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium, 8-5 and 19-8. The second game was stopped after seven innings due to the ten-run rule.
Ranked sixth in New England, Rhode Island (21-9, 7-3 little east) had an eight-game winning streak snapped with its seventh and eighth straight losses at the hands of Eastern (19-10-1, 6-3 little east). The Warriors, who won all 14 of their LEC regular-season games a year ago, have won five straight and nine of ten this year. Since dropping the front end of a conference doubleheader two weeks ago to Massachusetts Boston, Eastern has won seven in a row at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
After collecting two hits in the opener, sophomore centerfielder John Parke (Middlefield) had a 21-game hitting streak stopped in the nightcap, the first time in over a month that he failed to get a hit. Facing four different in six plate appeareances in the second game, Parke was 0-for-4, but scored the first run of the game after getting hit by a pitch. He also reached on an error and hit a sacrifice fly in a seven-run fourth inning. During his hitting streak, Parke had batted .390 (39-for-100) with 15 multiple-hit games.
With conference ERA leader Evan Grogan on in relief to start the fourth inning for Rhode Island, Eastern sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to expand a four-run lead to 13-2. Grogon, who brought a 4-0 record and 2.29 ERA into play, retired only one batter and was charged with six runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning. Parke reached on an error to start the inning, senior leftfielder Jon Dalton (Standish, ME) singled through the left side, and sophomore All-America shortstop Melvin Castillo (Danbury) unleashed a three-run home run. Later in the inning No. 9 hitter Andrew Magliola (East Haven) plated two more runs with an opposite-field single through the right side.
Sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) and Castillo each hit two home runs and junior DH Shawn Gilblair (Windham) had one for Eastern. Bass hit one HR in each game, while Castillo hit two home runs, drove in four runs with three hits and scored four in the nightcap. Gilblair hit his team-leading tenth HR in the second game. Nine players had at least two hits on the afternoon. Bass led all players by driving in five runs and Castillo led all players with five hit and six runs scored. Since going hitless in the first game of last weekend's doubleheader at the University of Southern Maine, Bass is 10-for-20 with 12 RBI and six runs scored in his last five games to raise his batting average to a team-leading .392.
Right-handed junior Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) won his sixth game in eight decisions by pitching into the eighth inning of the opener. He fanned eight without a walk and gave up nine hits. Sophomore righty Chris Wojick (Uncasville) gained his fourth save in his staff-leading 15th appearance in relief of Jagodzinski.
Eastern faces Worcester State College Sunday at 1 p.m. at Assumption College.
Game 1
Eastern Conn. 8, Rhode Island College 5
R.I. College (21-8, 7-2 little east) 002 000 030 --5 10 2
Eastern Conn. (18-10-1, 5-3 little east) 020 103 02x -- 8 9 1
Gary Levesque (1-2), Eric Gelsomino (6), Bobby Venditto (6), Evan Grogan (8) and Jordan Amorin. Jimmy Jagodzinski (6-2), Chris Wojick (8) and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (7). Save-Wojick (4). 2B-Jared Rossi ®, Andrew Smiley (E); 3B-Melvin Castillo (E); HR-Amorin (1) ®; Travis Bass (4) (E).
Game 2
Eastern Conn. 19, Rhode Island College 8 (7 inn., 10-run rule)
R.I. College (21-9, 7-3 little east) 010 120 4 -- 8 10 2
Eastern Conn. (19-10-1, 6-3 little east) 303 710 5 -- 19 18 2
Eric Thibault (2-1), Evan Grogan (4), Bobby Fournier (4), Bruce Celico (5), Rob Rushton (6) and Jordan Amorin, Franklin Salcedo (6). Matt Fontaine (3-1), Joe Esposito (7) and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (7). 2B-Peter Olson, Chris O’Connors ®, Jim Schult (E); 3B-Bryan Colombero ®; HR-Josh Cardoso (5) ®, Melvin Castillo 2 (7), Shawn Gillbair (10), Travis Bass (5) (E).
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
BASS, CASTILLO EACH HAVE FOUR HITS IN BASEBALLWIN
In 16-7 victory over Bridgewater State College, Parke’s hitting streak reaches 20
MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore second baseman Travis Bass (West Hartford) and sophomore shortstop Melvin Castillo (Danbury) each had four hits and sophomore centerfielder John Parke (Middlefield) extended his hitting streak to 20 games as baseball downed Bridgewater State College, 16-7, in a non-conference game Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
A winner of seven of its last eight, Eastern (17-10-1) sent ten batters to the plate and scored five runs on five hits in the third, and added four runs in the fourth on five more hits to move out to an 11-1 lead after four innings. Bridgewater (19-7) got six runs back in the top of the fifth on five hits, but the Warriors tacked on three more in the sixth to secure the victory. Bridgewater has lost two straight after winning four in a row.
The teams combined to use nine pitchers in this non-conference game which has relatively little post-season implications, most of the pitchers having seen relatively little action this season. The Warriors collected 18 hits off four Bridgewater pitchers.
Bass, a first-year transfer from Castleton State, had his first four-hit game of the season to raise his average to .400, and Castillo matched that figure to up his average to .365. Bass drove in three runs with a single in the second and a two-run home run in the sixth. Castillo scored three runs.
Parke hit safely in his 20th consecutive game witih a single in the five-run third and also added an infield single in the eighth. Parke has had at least two hits in 14 of those 20 games. Freshman righfielder Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) drove in four runs in the game, three coming on his first career home run – a three-run shot with two out in the fourth. Junior DH Shawn Gilblair (Windham) had three hits, scored three runs and drove in three runs with a three-run home run in the third.
Sophomore lefty Wes Dutton (Waterbury) was credited with the win as the fourth of Eastern's five pitchers. Dutton did not allow a hit or a run in the sixth and seventh innings while fanning two and walking one. In his collegiate debut, freshman lefty Dan Glabicky (Marblehead, MA) struck out six batters in the final two innings. Glabicky struck out the side in the eighth while walking one. In the ninth, he got a ground ball for the first out, then struck out three batters. One batter reached on a wild pitch after fanning.
Bridgewater leadoff batter Mark Claffey reached safely three times on a single, double and by error, and scored twice. Jarrett Mooney also had two hits and scored a run. Steve Smith. Bridgewater’s top hitter with a .476 average, was 0-for-4. He reached twice on an error and walk and scored in the fifth.
Eastern hosts Rhode Island College Saturday at noon in a Little East Conference doubleheader.
Eastern Conn. 16, Bridgewater State College 7
Bridgewater State (19-7) 100 060 000 -- 7 8 4
Eastern Conn. (17-10-1) 025 403 11x -- 16 18 4
Jeff Sarahs (0-2), Dave Matthews (4), Brian Guillotte (6), Chris Horgan (8) and Kelly LaDow. Matt Fontaine, Shawn Johnson (3), Ronnie Newkirk (5), Wes Dutton (6), Dan Glabicky (8) and Andrew Magliola, Joe Klein (9). WP-Dutton (2-0); 2B-Mark Claffey, Brad Koneski (B), Magliola (E); HR-Shawn Gilblair (9), Jim Schult (1), Travis Bass (3) (E).
Monday, April 14, 2008
VETERANS ANSWER THE CALL, LIFT WARRIORS TO 10-8 WIN
Bolorin and Hobbes deliver key hits off the bench in comeback against Suffolk University
MANSFIELD, Conn. – Senior Ismael Bolorin (Manchester) and junior Tristan Hobbes (Utica, NY) came off the bench to deliver key bases-loaded, run-scoring hits that sparked baseball to a come-from-behind 10-8 victory over Suffolk University Monday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
With Eastern trailing 8-3 in the sixth, Bolorin hit a grand slam just inside the right field foul pole to pull Eastern (16-10-1) to within a run. In the eighth, Hobbes plated John Parke (Middlefield) and Bolorin with the tying and go-ahead runs with a base-loaded, opposite-field single to left that gave the Warriors a 9-8 lead. Jim Schult’s (Wappingers Falls, NY) RBI single then scored pinch runner Travis Horrigan (Roxbury) with an insurance run.
The win is the seventh straight for Eastern over Suffolk (19-7) and snaps the Rams’ seven-game winning streak. Suffolk was shooting for its 11th straight 20-win season.
Suffolk, ranked sixth in New England in the Division III poll released April 7, scored at least one run in its first five at-bats and carried an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth. The Warriors loaded the bases on two hits and a hit batter off Suffolk starter Tim Doyle in the sixth, and Bolorin unloaded his third home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch just inside the foul poll to cut the gap to one run. After finishing second nationally a year ago with a program-record 12 triples and batting .333, Bolorin was batting just .209 with eight RBI prior to the blast. He had entered the game as a fourth-inning pinch hitter.
Hobbes, mired in a 3-for-19 slump entering the game, was inserted into the lineup at first base in the fifth inning. He singled in the fifth and grounded to first in the seventh before lacing his two-out, two-run go-ahead single to left in the eighth. Parke, who extended his hitting streak to 19 games, led off the eighth with a hustle double after singling to center off the glove of Suffolk reliefe pitcher Mike Carbone. After Bolorin was hit by a pitch, All-America Melvin Castillo (Danbury) was credited with his first career sacrifice bunt, and All-America Shawn Gilblair (Windham) was walked intentionally to load the bases. Hobbes then collected his tenth and 11th RBI of the season when he dropped a 2-2 pitch into left field.
Parke, Hobbes and Schult all had two hits for Eastern, with Schult driving in two runs.
Suffolk, which had qualified for last year’s ECAC New England Division III tournament, scored two runs in each of its first three at-bats, knocking out Eastern righty James Kukucka (Vernon) from the mound in the third inning. Suffolk opened the game with two walks and both runners came around to score to make it 2-0. The Warriors took their only lead until the eighth by scoring three times in the bottom of the first on three walks and two singles. Leading 4-3, the Rams widened the gap to three runs by scoring twice in the third on babck-to-back RBI singles by Mike Kenneally and No. 8 hitter Matt Shanahan. Kenneally’s hit drove Kukucka from the mound and Shanahan’s RBI single greeted righty Ronnie Newkirk (New Milford).
Tim Corcoran’s RBI double in the fourth and Shanahan’s leadoff home run to left in the fifth extended Suffolk’s lead to 8-3.
Righty Joe Esposito (East Haven), the fourth of five Eastern pitchers, gained his second win of the season with a loss. Making his second straight relief appearance after four straight starts, Esposito entered the game with one out in the seventh and the Warriors on the short end of an 8-7 score. Esposito walked two with a strikeout but did not give up a hit. First-year righty Chris Wojick (Uncasville) recorded his third save of the season by retiring three of the four batters that he faced in the ninth.
Shanahan and Bobby Barrett each had three hits for Suffolk, with Keith Carter and Kenneally adding two each. Six different Suffolk players drove in at least one run. Shanahan scored twice and collected three RBI.
Eastern hosts Bridgewater State College Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Eastern Conn. 10, Suffolk U. 8
Suffolk (19-7) 222 110 000 -- 8 11 2
Eastern Conn. (16-10-1) 300 004 03x 10 11 4
Tim Doyle, Mike Carbone (6), Greg DiMarco (8) and Bobby Barrett. James Kukucka, Ronnie Newkirk (3), Michael Montanari 5), Joe Esposito (7), Chris Wojick (9), and Andrew Magliola, Chris Cannata (7), Rob Chmiel (8). WP-Esposito (2-0); LP-DiMarco (1-1); Save-Wojick (3). 2B-Keith Carter, Tim Corcoran, Matt Shanahan (S), John Parke (E); HR-Shanahan (2) (S), Ismael Bolorin (3) (E).
Friday, April 11, 2008
EASTERN, SOUTHERN MAINE SPLIT LITTLE EAST TWINBILL
In battle of conference’s premier programs, Warriors hold on for second-game win
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -- The most dominant teams in the 13-year history of the Little East Conference renewed their baseball rivalry Friday afternoon when the Warriors and the University of Southern Maine split a doubleheader at the Wainright Athletic Complex.
At right: John Parke extended his hitting streak to 18 games with five hits in the doubleheader.
Ranked No. 4 in New England, Southern Maine (15-7, 4-2 little east) rallied from a two-run deficit to take the opening game 4-2 behind the two-hit, relief effort of sophomore left-hander Mark Schmidt to end a four-game futility streak against the Warriors. Eastern (15-10-1, 4-3 little east) salvaged a split in the nightcap by building a 9-1 lead after 8 ½ innings, then hanging on for a 9-6 victory.
Now halfway through its 14-game LEC regular-season schedule, defending champion Eastern is in fifth place in the eight-team loop. The Warriors are a half-game behind Southern Maine and UMass Boston (3-1), one game behind Keene State (4-1) and 1 1/2 games back of conference leader Rhode Island College (5-1). The Warriors have split with Keene, UMass Boston and Southern Maine and have beaten Western Connecticut. Of its seven remaining conference games, five come against the last three teams in the LEC and two will be contested against Rhode Island. Last year, Eastern became the first LEC team to win all 14 of its regular-season games.
In the opener, Schmidt (4-0) came on to replace sophomore starter Collin Henry in the fourth inning after Henry was hurt making a catch on an infield pop up. Schmidt went the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out four to run his record to 4-0.
The Warriors scored the first run of the game in the fourth on a squeeze bunt by junior Andrew Magliola (East Haven) that brought home rookie Jim Schult (Wappinger Falls, NY). Schult had led off the inning with a double. Eastern made it 2-0 in the fifth on a leadoff homer by junior All-America Shawn Gilblair (Windham) – his team-leading eighth of the year and the 16th of his three-year career. After Gilblair’s homer, however, Schmidt did not allow another hit and only one baserunner the rest of the way.
Southern Maine wiped out the two-run deficit by scoring the go-ahead runs in the sixth. With two out and a runner on first, junior Anthony D’Alfonso singled, junior Josh Stowell doubled home a run, and sophomore Josh Mackey singled in the tying and go-ahead runs. The Huskies picked up an insurance run in the seventh on two singles and a throwing error and chased Gilblair (1-3) in favor of senior righty Joe Esposito (East Haven).
Sophomore All-America Melvin Castillo (Danbury) recorded his 100th career hit in his 75rh career game with a double. The game was the third one for Gilblair since returning from a pulled hamstring that cost him six games.
In the nightcap, the Warriors jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings against USM senior right-hander Adam Ross. Gilblair and Schult had RBIs in the first inning. Gilblair had an RBI double and first-year sophomore Travis Bass (West Hartford) added a two-run double in the third—one of his three hits.
Eastern staked junior starter Jimmy Jagodzinski (Greenwich) to an 8-1 lead and Jagodzinski allowed only one run through the first seven innings before the Huskies chased him in a five-run eighth inning that cut the Eastern lead to 8-6. The win was the staff-leading fifth of the year for Jagodzinski. Bass , who had the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday against Roger Williams University, h