BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott baseball team swept Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) leader Roger Williams, 5-2 & 3-1, on Saturday evening at North Field. Endicott baseball head coach Bryan Haley also earned his 300th and 301st career wins in today's doubleheader sweep of the Hawks.
The Gulls' sweep of Roger Williams was pivotal to Endicott's future playoff picture as the Gulls knocked the Hawks out of first place in the conference standings today and slid into third place ahead of Western New England. Roger Williams will host the new conference leader in Salve Regina tomorrow for a doubleheader at 12/2:30 PM. Tomorrow's twinbill now gives Endicott a chance to maneuver into second place, depending on the results.
Meanwhile, Haley – the winningest coach in program history – became just the third coach in Endicott Athletics history to reach the 300-career victories plateau (Mark Veilleux, Softball, 620 | Tim Byram, Women's Volleyball, 404). Haley also entered this season tied 50th among all active NCAA Division III coaches in winning percentage (.616) in only 10 seasons. Haley's career record currently stands at 301-184 (.621).
GAME ONE: Endicott 5, Roger Williams 2
Tied 2-2 with two outs in the fifth inning, pinch-hitter Nickolas Perkins (Nashua, N.H.) blasted a go-ahead three-run home run to deep right field to give Endicott a 5-2 lead it never relinquished.
Alexander Mandrus (Acton, Mass.) then blanked Roger Williams over the next two frames (0 H, 0 BB) for his second save of the season. Joseph Oriola (Pembroke, Mass.) earned the win (3-3) on 3 1/3 innings pitched, two hits, one run (earned), two walks, and two strikeouts.
Jacob Thibault (Methuen, Mass.) and Brendan McDonald (Quincy, Mass.) were responsible for the Gulls' only other runs via an RBI double to left center in the second and a sacrifice fly to third, respectively.
GAME TWO: Endicott 3, Roger Williams 1
Joseph Brown (Poultney, Vt.) aided Endicott to its sweep with a dominant performance on the bump. The sophomore righty went the distance, allowed five hits, one unearned run, walked five, and struck out a game-high six batters.
Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) knocked in the bookend runs for the Gulls with RBI doubles in the first and second innings. McDonald also plated a run in the first on a fielder's choice ground ball back to the pitcher.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES
- Endicott is 33-17 all-time against Roger Williams.
- The Gulls have won six games in a row versus the Hawks.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (24-11) hosts Suffolk University tomorrow on Senior Day at 1 PM. Prior to the game, seniors Hunter Boyce (Bangor, Maine), Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.), Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.), Will Ferreira (Nantucket, Mass.), Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass.), Brad Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.), and Colin Mason will all be honored for their contributions towards the program and the Endicott College community in a Senior Day ceremony.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)