March 26, 2004
(Babson Park, MA) In a game added to the schedule because both teams had rainouts earlier in the week, Babson edged Endicott in its last at bat. Despite accumulating a season high mark for hits in a game, it was the runners left on base that hurt EC in the end.
Endicott had eight hits through three innings with only one run to show for it. Greg Allain singled in Dave Babiarz (double) in the top of the first. But with one out, EC left runners at the corners. Endicott then wasted a single and double in each of the next two innings to strand six after three innings.
Babson got to Endicott starter Jon Trowt in the second with two sun-aided hits and a three run homer by Mike Muccio. Babson stretched it to 5-1 in the third with a two-out, two-run homer by Ryan Campbell.
Endicott battled back in the fifth to make it 5-4. Mark Vaughan's single to left scored Mike Lucas and Matt Bishop. Then Pat Vincent promptly delivered Vaughan on a first-pitch double to left-center.
Trowt worked a 1-2-3 fourth and was lifted in the fifth after allowing one run. Mike Daggett closed out the fifth and pitched scoreless ball through the eighth. He wriggled of a bases-loaded, one-out hook in the seventh by inducing a fielder's choice out at home plate and strike out.
With Babson up 6-4, Dave Babiarz made it 6-5 with a lead off home run in the sixth. Dustin Aiguier led off the eighth with a bunt single and went all the way to third on a stolen base and throwing error by the Babson catcher. Babiarz then tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Endicott's best threat to take the lead came in the top of the ninth. Vaughan singled and pinch-hitter, Jason Newham, put down a perfect sacrifice that forced a Babson throwing error. With runners on first and second and no outs, Babson reliever, Brett Best, made a full diving catch on the third base line of Kevin Donahue's bunt attempt. He then sprang to feet and doubled Mark Vaughan off second to kill the rally.
Daggett struggled in the ninth by hitting the first two hitters and Phil McInnis got the game winning RBI with a single to left. Daggett gets tagged with the loss and drops to 1-1, while Best gets his first win of the season for Babson.
Babson improves to 7-6 and Endicott drops to 4-7.
