May 7, 2009
QUINCY, Mass. - The Endicott College Gulls (20-22) spoiled Suffolk baseball's senior night beating the Rams 8-5. Endicott pounded out 15 hits in the game and also got a strong performance on the mound from freshman starter Mike Nich (Orange, Conn.) as he went six strong innings only allowing two earned runs to pick up his sixth victory of the season.
Endicott jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead taking advantage of a Suffolk miscue when pitcher Alex Torres (Framingham, Mass.) airmailed a throw to third base on a botched pickoff play. Torres got two quick outs to start the game before senior Brian Andersen (Grafton, Mass.) and sophomore Christopher Dominguez (Braintree, Mass.) hit back to back singles to put runners on the corners. Torres' error allowed Andersen to come home with the game's first run.
Suffolk would add two of their own in the bottom half of the first as senior Keith Carter (Newburyport, Mass.) hit a double to deep center plating senior Paul Vittozzi (North Reading, Mass.). Sophomore Jon Handy (South Burlington, Vt.) then singled to left field the give the Rams the 2-1 lead.
Endicott evened the game up at 2-2 in the third, as they once again took advantage of a Torres throwing error. Junior Andrew Betts (Bristol, Conn.) came in to score when an errant throw sailed to the outfield on yet another failed first and third play.
Junior Dan Greel (Rockport, Mass.) doubled in the go ahead run in the fourth inning to give the Gulls the lead for good. Endicott added two more in the sixth inning with a bases loaded walk drawn by sophomore Mike Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Betts.
Freshman Michael Russo's (Natick, Mass.) two-run single in the top of the eighth broke the game open as Endicott went up 8-2. Suffolk would answer with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning as freshman Dan Belanger (Raynham, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs with a single followed by another RBI single by junior Rory Gentile (Gloucester, Mass.) but the Rams could not cut the lead any closer.
Freshman Benjamin Petrides (Belchertown, Mass.) recorded the final five outs of the game for his first save of the season. Petrides entered the game in the eighth with two runners in scoring position but struck out by junior Bobby Barrett (Milton, Mass.) and Carter to end the Rams' threat.
Five hitters in the Endicott lineup finished with multiple hits, including a four-hit night for Dominguez. Betts, Russo, Andersen and Greel all had two hits each.
Jon Handy had four hits on the night for Suffolk, while Belanger and senior Mike Kenneally (Georgetown, Mass.) each had two hits apiece as well.
The game was the last regular season contest for both teams. Suffolk (30-9) will now wait for the rest of the field for the NCAA Regional Tournaments to be announced. The Rams will be making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance beginning on Wednesday May 13th.
Release Courtesy of Suffolk Sports Information