WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – On day one of their spring break trip to central Florida for the 2016 RussMatt Invitational Tournament, the Endicott baseball team split a pair of games with 2015 Centennial Conference Finalists Franklin & Marshall. The Gulls (2-1) saw their lineup produce offensively in game one before the Diplomats (4-4) shutdown Endicott in game two.
Game One – Endicott 11, Franklin & Marshall 3
Sophomore second baseman Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass) went 4-for-4 with three RBI, including one on his first career homerun, and added two runs scored and a stolen base to lead Endicott to a convincing game one win over Franklin & Marshall.
DeDonato's homerun to left came in the top of the fifth inning to put Endicott ahead 5-0 after spotting starting JJ Branch (Milford, Mass.) four runs in the top of the first. In that four-run top of the first, Endicott loaded the bases with no outs and on an Anthony Serina (Portsmouth, R.I.) single to right the ball was misplayed allowing all three runners to score. Freshman left fielder Evan Lumpinski (Woodbridge, Conn.) followed with a RBI groundout to plate Serina.
After two shutout innings by Branch (2-0), F&M got two runs back in the bottom of the third on an infield error with the bases loaded and one more via a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Diplomats freshman right fielder Brian Meerholz (Fair Lawn, N.J.).
DeDonato continued his hot hitting in game one with a two-RBI single to right in the top of the fourth that plated seniors Cody Hall (Rutland, Mass.) and Josh Drew (Intervale, N.H.). With two outs in the frame, Drew singled to right and advanced to third on a double to the gap in left center by Hall which set up DeDonato's RBI chance from the top of the lineup.
One inning later, Endicott capped off their scoring with a four-run bottom of the fifth highlighted by a RBI triple by Serina, a stolen base by junior outfielder Cam Farnham (Andover, Mass.) that allowed a runner to score from third, and a two-run shot to left by senior centerfielder Corbin Hyde (XXX), his second of the year.
F&M senior third baseman Matt Mezansky (Larchmont, N.Y.) hit a solo homerun off Branch in the top of the fifth to end his outing by three combined shutout innings by junior relievers Eric Nagle (Manchester, Conn.) and Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass.) solidified the Endicott win.
Game Two – Franklin & Marshall 8, Endicott 0
F&M sophomore righty Mike Androconis (Westfield, N.J.) silenced the Gulls bats over the course of seven shutout innings to help the Diplomats salvage a split, winning 8-0. Androconis struck out seven batters, allowed just three hits, and failed to issue a free pass as he improved to 2-1 on the year.
Junior shortstop Reed Williams (Milford, N.J.) totaled five RBIs in game two including doubles in the fourth and fifth innings that both drove in two runners apiece. Reed's double in the top of the fourth pushed F&M's lead to 4-0 and in the fifth, his two-run double down the right field line capped off the scoring at 8-0.
F&M also benefited from a 3-for-4 day at the plate from junior outfielder David Iacobucci (Malvern, Pa.) who had two RBI hits in the win.
Gulls senior starter Davarn Nova (Buzzard's Bay, Mass.) gave up two earned runs over 1 1/3 innings before turning the ball over to junior reliever Colby Morris (Newburyport, Mass.) with one out and the bases load. Morris, appearing in his first game since the 2014 NCAA New England Regional Tournament, forced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double-play to hold F&M to a 2-0 lead after the top of the second. F&M, however, would go on to tag Endicott pitching for three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cushion their lead.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott and Franklin & Marshall met today for the first time since the 2009 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational when split a pair of games in Winter Haven, Fla.
- The Gulls improved to
- As a team, Endicott hit for the cycle for the second straight game, compiling eight singles, one double, one triple, and two homeruns for a total of 12 hits.
- Seven of Endicott's nine starters recorded at least one hit in game one.
- In game two, junior Colby Morris made his first appearance since earning a win over Southern Maine in the 2014 NCAA New England Regional Tournament as he missed the 2015 season to injury.
FOR THE FOES
- Matt Mezansky went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI with his fourth career homerun in game one.
- Mike Androconis has now has a 12 2/3 scoreless innings streak dating back to his start against Guilford on February 27th. Androconis shutout Elizabethtown over five innings before his complete-game shutout in game two veruss Endicott.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (2-1) continues its spring break trip with day two action against UMass Dartmouth on Monday, March 14th at 3:30 p.m. The Gulls and Corsairs will meet on Lake Myrtle Park, Field 4 in Auburndale, Fla.
