BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott used a three-run third fourth inning and a strong pitching performance from senior Tyler Hitchcock (Abington, Mass.) to defeat St. Joseph's College 4-2 in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at North Field, record the venue's first victory since it's renovation this offseason.
The Monks (7-3) were ranked #11 in this week's NCBWA/D3Baseball.com rankings, but Endicott (6-4) was able to collect just its second victory in the last seven meetings between the two squads.
Hitchcock went seven and a third innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits while recording three strikeouts and improving to 2-0 this season with a 0.63 ERA.
The Gulls, who outhit their opponents 9-7, erased a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth With one out, Colin Sitarz (W. Hartford, Conn.) singled and EJ Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) walked, setting the stage for designated hitter Eric Lemke (Southington, Conn., who tripled down the right field line to plate both runners for the Gulls.
The next batter, senior Ralph Fidaleo (Fairfield, Conn.), blooped a single to right field that blew in from foul territory and landed just fair, allowing Lemke to cross the plate.
The Monks had gotten their noses in front by a single run on two occasions, starting with an RBI double by designated hitter Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) in the first inning.
Endicott took no time tying the game at a run apiece, with center fielder Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) leading off the bottom of the first with a single, stealing second and scoring on a single up the middle by first baseman Brett Holmgren (Middleboro, Mass.), who was 3-4 in the game hitting out of the three hole, while Lemke was 2-2 out of the sixth spot in the lineup.
Hitchcock's one mistake was a homerun to deep right field in the top of the third inning by left fielder and lead-off man Sam Butts (Saco, Maine), which restored a 2-1 advantage for the visitors. In fact, Butts accounted for most of the Monk's offensive production, as he went 3-4 at the top of the order and scored both of the visitor's runs.
Hitchcock and senior Kevin Dupras (Belchertown, Mass.) stymied the St. Joseph's lineup, allowing just three hits and no runs over the final five innings. Dupras came on to pitch the final inning and two-thirds and induced a critical double-play to end the eighth en route to picking up his first save of the year.
Senior Chad Rafferty (Keene, N.H.) fell to 2-1 on the season with the loss after pitching seven innings and allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks, while striking out four for St. Joseph's.
Endicott continues its home-stand this Friday afternoon with a 3:30 pm nine-inning game against the Engineers of MIT.
The Monks will be back on the field and on the road tomorrow afternoon, when they travel to in-state rival Husson for a 1:00 pm single game.
