Battle of the birds results in split

Battle of the birds results in split

April 18, 2009

Box Score - Game One / Box Score - Game Two

NEWPORT, R.I. - Endicott College posted a 5-3 win in game one, and then suffered a 3-2 walk-off loss in game two of a doubleheader split with Salve Regina University on Saturday afternoon in Newport, R.I. Seahawk senior Senior Justin Collett (South Portland, Maine) launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Salve Regina University the win in game two.

Collett - who suffered the loss in the Gulls 5-3 win in game one - helped attain for his erratic performance on the mound by belting his fifth home run of the season to centerfield after junior pinch-hitter Sean Sullivan (Pawtucket, R.I.) opened the inning with a long single down the left-field line off Endicott freshman pitcher Ben Petrides (Belchertown, Mass.).

The Seahawks trailed 1-0 in game two on an RBI single by Petrides in the first inning, but rallied to tie the game at one on an RBI single from sophomore Alex Melcher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) in the sixth. The Gulls regained the lead at 2-1 in the seventh on an RBI single by junior Aaron Santos (Cambridge, Mass.) before Collett won it in the bottom half of the frame.

Silva (Marlborough, Mass.) picked up his fourth win of the season for Salve Regina, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out five in seven innings of work. Petrides slipped to 3-3 with the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out four.

In the opener, freshman Nick Politelli (Warwick, R.I.) and junior Tom Glynn (Woodbridge, Conn.) each drove in runs in the fourth to give the Seahawks a 2-1 lead through four. Politelli's second RBI of the afternoon in the sixth pushed the lead to 3-1 entering the seventh.

Seahawk sophomore starting pitcher Charles Matarazzo (Montville, N.J.) retired the first two batters in the ninth before a triple by Santos and a double by junior Andrew Betts (Bristol, Conn.) made it 3-2 with the tying run on second base. Collett came on in relief of Matarazzo, walked sophomore Roberto Zapata (Boston, Mass.), and then hit junior pinch hitter Andy Skelton (Sudbury, Mass.) to load the bases. Collett then walked Petrides and freshman Michael Russo (Natick, Mass.) to give Endicott a 4-3 lead, and hit senior Brian Andersen (Grafton, Mass.) to bring in the Gulls fifth run.

Junior Colin McGinn (Tolland, Conn.) improved to 4-3 with the win, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out five. Collett fell to 1-1 as he allowed two runs, walked three and hit two in 0.1 IP.

The Seahawks (13-19, 8-8 TCCC) return to action tomorrow when they host Nichols. The doubleheader begins at noon. Endicott also returns to action on Sunday when the Gulls host Anna Maria College in Beverly, Mass.

Release courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information