BEVERLY, Mass. – Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) crushed a 3-1 fastball over the left field fence to give second-seeded Endicott an eventual 5-4 victory over third-seeded Western New England on Saturday afternoon in game four of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament at Hempstead Stadium.
Nick Quattro (Canton, Conn.) quieted the Golden Bears' bats over the next two innings behind two strikeouts and four groundouts, while Will Bryant (Cumberland, Maine) slammed the door on his conference-leading seventh save of the season with a 4-6-3 double play ball and a strikeout swinging to lock up the victory.
Quattro picked up the win (7-3) over 4 1/3 innings, four hits, one run (earned), two walks, and two punchouts. Meanwhile, Western New England starter Paul Wetmore (Hamden, Conn.) was tagged with the loss (5-3) on six innings pitched, four hits, five runs (three earned), two free passes, and four strikeouts.
After both teams posted a pair of runs in the first, the Golden Bears doubled their advantage (4-2) with a solo no-doubter home run by Daniel Morin (Salem, N.H.) in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth via Brian Valeriano (Stratford, Conn.) before Endicott completed its comeback behind Casciano's three-run jack.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.) extended his on-base streak to 12 games with his 1-for-3, one run scored line at the plate.
- Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.) and Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) both drew one-out walks prior to Casciano's bomb.
- Endicott is 15-6 at home this season, and 9-1 in its last 10 games.
FOR THE FOES
- Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) and Morin both collected two hits apiece in the loss.
- Western New England's bullpen did not give up a hit, walk or strike anyone out over the last two innings. The Golden Bears' relievers consisted of Patrick Westerlind (Auburn, Mass.), Will Krasovec (Haverhill, Mass.), and Liam Davey (Cheshire, Conn.). All three pitchers got two batters out, respectively, in that order.
WHAT'S NEXT
Second-seeded Endicott (24-16) hosts sixth-seeded Gordon (12-21) in game eight of the CCC Tournament tomorrow at 12 PM. If Endicott wins, the Gulls will advance to the CCC Championship Series. If Gordon wins tomorrow, the Fighting Scots will have to defeat Endicott again on the same day at approximately 3 PM to advance to the CCC Championship Series.
Western New England (22-18) saw its 2017 season come to a close with a 5-3 loss to Gordon in game six of the CCC Tournament, which immediately followed game four of the tournament at North Field earlier today. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - Betsy Boyce)