Posted: Mar 25, 2012
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BEVERLY, Mass. – On a rainy Sunday afternoon, Endicott earned a split with visiting Roger Williams University in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) baseball doubleheader. The Gulls took the first game 6-2 before falling 4-2 in the night cap.
Game 1
Endicott took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the first inning to score five runs, four of them unearned, after Roger Williams had jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. The Gulls sent nine batters to the plate in the first frame, scoring five times on just two hits, including RBI singles by designated hitter Ralph Fidaleo (Fairfield, Conn.) and left fielder Michael Russo (Natick, Mass.).
The Gulls loaded the bases when third baseman Harry Oringer (Darmouth, Mass.) attempted a sacrifice bunt and Roger Williams’s first baseman Eric Bransfield (Lynn, Mass.) had trouble picking the ball up. Center fielder Tad Gold (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.) then reached on a fielder’s choice and the Gulls ended up unscathed when Bransfield threw the ball away trying to get E.J. Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at home. The second miscue of the inning allowed Eric Lemke (Southington, Conn.) to also come around and score from second base.
Fidaleo and Russo followed with singles, nestled around an RBI groundout by Conor Ressel (Rockport, Mass.).
The Gulls grabbed another run in the second when Gold singled home Lemke, who was hit by a pitch for the second consecutive inning.
That was all that starting pitcher Mike Nich (Orange, Conn.) would need, as he went the distance for the hosts. Nich struck out seven batters and did not issue a walk while giving up eight hits and two earned runs, evening his record at 1-1.
Shortstop John Oppenheimer (Westport, Conn.) had a 3-4 day for the Hawks, who got two runs in the first on four hits, including an RBI single by designated hitter Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.). Manzi had two hits for the visitors, as did Chris Comeau (Southbury, Conn.), who came in to score in the top half of the first.
Roger Williams also got a complete game out of sophomore starter Sean Boyle (Arlington, Mass.), who settled down and held the Gulls scoreless after the first two innings. Boyle (2-2) gave up five hits over six innings and also allowed just two earned runs, striking out six batters and walking two Gulls.
Game 2
It was Endicott this time that suffered because of miscues, as the Gulls made three errors and allowed three unearned runs, falling by a 4-2 score as the rain came down steadily throughout the second game.
Russo had two hits in the game for the Gulls and also scored and drove in runs. He led off the fifth inning with a double and came across the plate on an RBI groundout by E.J. Martinez. He added a second double in the bottom of the seventh to score pinch runner Danny Mello (Peabody, Mass.), but the Endicott rally stalled there as Roger Williams sophomore Tyler Pogmore (Lebanon, Conn.) collected the final three outs for his third save of the season.
The Hawks got on the board with a single run in the third when Derek Jerome (New Bedford, Mass.) reached on an error and stole second base before scoring on a single by left fielder Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.).
Endicott Starter Brendan Pittsley (Plympton, Mass.) fell to 1-1 with the loss. Pittsley pitched four innings, allowing just three hits and two unearned runs, striking out three Hawks.
Tyler Hill (Plymouth, N.H.) gave up two runs in the sixth inning, including allowing Oppenheimer an RBI single and then making an error that allowed him to cross the plate.
Freshman Ryan Tita got the win for Roger Williams, pitching six innings of four-hit ball and allowing the two Gull’s earned runs.
The Gulls outhit the Hawks 5-4 in the second game and Russo was the only multiple-hit player for either team.
Endicott will return to non-conference action on Tuesday when they travel to Worcester State for a 3:30 pm single game.
Roger Williams will host a team from Worcester at the same time, as WPI will travel to Bristol, R.I.
