AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A four-run top of the first inning helped Eastern Conn. St. defeat Endicott 8-5 on Monday morning as the Gulls dropped their first game in the 2017 RussMatt Invitational at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.
Eastern Conn. St. took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues by Endicott in the top of the first to take a quick 2-0 lead and added two more runs on a RBI double to left center by junior first baseman D.J. Scavone (Auburn, Mass.) and a single through the right side of the infield off the bat of freshman third baseman Drew Alexopoulos (Hanson, Mass.) that brought home the fourth run of the frame.
The Warriors registered their only earned run off Endicott freshman starter Joseph Oriola (Sandwich, Mass.), who pitched effectively with seven strikeouts in three innings on the hill despite taking the loss, when Scavone drove his second of three doubles in the game to score sophomore outfielder Alexander White (West Hartford, Conn.). Eastern Conn. St. led 5-0 after the top of the third.
In the bottom half of the third, Endicott got on the board on a two-RBI single up in the middle by sophomore first baseman Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) that plated junior second baseman Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior shortstop Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.) who had reached base on a walk and infield single, respectively, earlier in the inning. Kochiss would later hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 6-3 game.
Warriors senior outfielder Pat Sirois (Cromwell, Conn.) scored a run in the sixth and knocked one in in the eighth to push Eastern Conn. St.'s advantage up to 8-3. His run came on a failed pickoff attempt that allowed him to score from third base and two innings later he doubled to deep center to score junior catcher Merlyn Herrera (La Yaquiza, Dominican Republic).
Endicott scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to threaten the Warrior lead as Kochiss triple over the centerfielder's head to score junior outfielder Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt.) which was followed by a RBI single by Seidl to bring home Kochiss. Eastern Conn. St. handed the ball over to sophomore lefty Nick Rascati (Wallingford, Conn.) who got the final out to record his first save of the season.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today was Endicott's third meeting with Eastern Conn. St. The Gulls lost both previous meetings, one of which came in the 2003 NCAA New England Regional Tournament.
- Endicott's top five hitters in the lineup combined to go 8-for-21 (.333) which four runs scored and five RBI.
- Seidl went 3-for-5 in the game marking the fourth time he has achieved that feat.
- Endicott pitchers combined to strikeout 14 batters led by Oriola (7), Corbin Hyde (Lewiston, Maine, 3), Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass., 3), and Chris O'Brien (Trumbull, Conn., 1).
- Endicott stole three bases in today's game and have swiped at least three bags in all three games this season.
FOR THE FOES
- Warriors sophomore pitcher Cole Ogorzalek (Portland, Conn.) earned the win by going 3 2/3 innings in the middle relief. He struck out three batters and only struggled in his final inning before giving way to Ruscati for the save.
- Starting pitcher, sophomore John Parker (Brunswick, Maine) threw three innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three.
- Scavone led the Eastern Conn. St. lineup with a 4-for-5 game at the dish with two RBI and one run scored.
- As a team, the Warriors had seven extra-base hits thanks to five doubles and two triples.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (2-1) continues their 2017 RussMatt Invitational with a single nine-inning contest against NJAC foe Rutgers-Camden for a 3:45 p.m. first pitch at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex Main Field. Eastern Conn. St. (2-0) takes on Ripon at 9:45 a.m. at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.