WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Endicott baseball team registered a marquee win on day one of their 2017 RussMatt Invitational schedule down in Central Florida by defeating No. 6/7 Ramapo by a score of 6-1 in game one of a doubleheader. Game two had to be cancelled due to heavy rain, thunder, and lightning that rolled through Chain of Lakes Stadium at the conclusion of game one.

Just like he did a week ago versus Salem State, Gulls sophomore righty Kevin Gould (Rollinsford, N.H.) turned in a strong performance on the bump with five scoreless innings and six strikeouts to improve to 2-0 on the season. Gould scattered six hits and walked just one Roadrunner batter in his outing. Graduate student Nick Quattro (Canton, Conn.), went the final two innings and surrendered one run in the top of the seventh to solidify the win.

Endicott's offense struck early in the bottom of the first as graduate assistant third baseman Anthony Serina (Portsmouth, R.I.) grounded out to third to bring home junior outfielder Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt.) and junior second baseman Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) singled home senior shortstop Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.) who had doubled in the prior at bat. The Gulls led 2-0 after one inning of play.

In their second trip to the dish, junior outfielder Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) singled, swiped second base, and advanced to third on a groundout. Casciano crossed home plate with two outs on the board thanks to an infield single by sophomore centerfielder Matt Bald (De Pere, Wisc.) to put Endicott ahead 3-0.

The Blue and Green maintained their three-run lead until the bottom of the fifth when Endicott took advantage of a throwing miscue by the Ramapo catcher on a first and third situation that allowed Bald to score from 90 feet away.

One inning later, Serina delivered crucial insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield that allowed Casciano and pinch-runner, freshman Dalton Therrien (Sabattus, Maine), to push the Endicott lead up to 6-0.

Ramapo would get one back in their final trip to the plate in the top of the seventh after freshman Matt Meola (Randolph, N.J.) led off the inning with a triple to deep right and scored on the next batter sophomore Chris Nierva's (Staten Island, N.Y.) groundout to first base.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This was Endicott's fourth all-time meeting with Ramapo and first since the 2014 season. The two teams are now tied 2-2.
• Bald went 2-for-4 in today's game with a RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Out of the nine-hole, Casciano went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He continues to lead the team with a .500 average through two games.
• Sophomore first baseman Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) drew two walks in his season debut.
• Endicott stole four bases in today's game and swiping three in last week's win over Salem State.

FOR THE FOES

• Ramapo dropped to 0-2 on the season and 0-2 in their first two games at the RussMatt Invitational.
• Junior left fielder Joe Maurgeri (Flanders, N.J.) went 3-for-3 to lead the Roadrunners, accounting for three of his team's seven hits.
• Maurgeri also had Ramapo's only stolen base of the game.
• Ramapo starting pitcher, lefty Jerry D'Andrea (Ridgewood, N.J.) went five frames allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks. He struck out four.
• Sophomore Kevin Foulds (Sparta, N.J.) and freshman Tyler Lombardo (Stirling, N.J.) combined to pitch the final inning for Ramapo.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (2-0) continues their southern swing on Monday, March 13 with a 9:15 a.m. first pitch against Eastern Conn. St. at Lake Myrtle Park, Field 8. Ramapo (0-2) also plays on Monday and takes on Wheaton (Mass.) at 12:30 p.m. at the Lake Myrtle complex.