Sports Hotline
860-465-5756
Friday, March 21, 2008
SIX-RUN FOURTH PROPELS BASEBALL PAST REDLANDS
Wojick’s relief and sixteen hits allow Warriors to survive six errors in 10-9 victory
REDLANDS, Calif. -- Sophomore All-America shortstop Melvin Castillo (Danbury) contributed to a six-run fourth inning by belting a three-run home run and first-year sophomore righty Chris Wojick (Uncasville) stranded the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth as the Warriors edged No. 18 nationally-ranked University of Redlands, 10-9, Friday afternoon at The Park.
Eastern (6-5), which fell out of the national Top 25 this past week after losing three of its first four in California, scored six runs on seven hits and two Redlands (14-9) errors in the top of the fourth inning to move out to a 9-4 lead, but the Bulldogs pulled to within one run (10-9) by scoring four unearned runs in the eighth on just one hit, two Eastern errors, a walk and hit batter.
Wojick, a first-semester transfer from the University of Maine, entered the game with none out, two runs in and a runner aboard in the eighth and Eastern leading 10-7. The hosts scored twice more in the inning on a walk and single to cut Eastern’s advantage to 10-9. In the ninth, Wojick left the tying and go-ahead runs aboard, picking a runner off second base for the first out of the inning and getting an infield pop to end the game and record his first save.
Sophomore righty Matt Fontaine (Cranston, RI) gained his first win in second career start. He pitched the first seven innings, allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) with three strikeouts and no walks and left with a 10-5 lead. Fontaine (1-1) had absorbed an 11-1 loss in his first career start last Saturday against Rutgers-Newark, surrendering seven earned runs before being lifted in the fifth inning.
Freshman righty Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) started the eighth on the mound in place of Fontaine. He faced only three batters – two reaching on errors and one being hit – before giving way to Wojick.
Only six of the 19 runs scored in the game were earned, thanks to ten errors. The Warriors commited six errors which led to six unearned Redlands runs.
Eastern reached Redlands freshman Steven Dryden (0-1) for nine hits and nine runs in the righty’s first career start before driving him from the game during the six-run fourth inning. Only three of the runs allowed by Dryden were earned, however.
Eastern scored its six runs in the fourth on seven hits and two errors. Castillo hit a three-run home run in that inning and senior third baseman Trey Bongiovanni (Meriden) had the first and last hits of the inning. Sophomore leftfielder John Parke (Middlefield) also had a two-run single in the frame.
Bongiovanni and junior All-America DH Shawn Gilblair (Windham) each had three hits in the game, with senior centerfielder Ismael Bolorin (Manchester), Castillo, junior first baseman Tristan Hobbes (Utica, NY), Parke and junior catcher Andrew Magliola (East Haven) adding two hits each to the 16-hit attack. Castillo drove in four runs, Parke and Gilblair two each. Gilblair had a two-run double to tie the game 3-3 in the second inning and Hobbes had a pinch double and scored in the fourth and later singled and walked in three plate appearances.
The top four hitters in the Eastern lineup – Bolorin, freshman rightfielder Pat Smith (Milford, PA), Castillo, and Gilblair – combined for seven hits, score seven runs, and drive in seven runs. Smith reached four times and scored three runs.
Eastern looks to close out its nine-game California swing with a winning record Saturday when it visits California Lutheran University at 4 p.m ET. The Warriors have won three of their last four to even their spring trip record at 4-4.
Eastern Conn. 10, U. of Redlands 9
Eastern Conn. (6-5) 012 610 000 -- 10 16 6
Redlands (14-9) 031 001 040 -- 9 9 4
Matt Fontaine (1-1), Jim Schult (8), Chris Wojick (8) and Andrew Magliola. Steven Dryden (0-1), Derek Johnson (4), Ryan Seifert (7), Corbett Clarke (9) and Jefre Johnson. Save-Wojick (1). 2B-Ismael Bolorin, Shawn Gilblair, Tristan Hobbes (E); HR-Melvin Castillo (E).
