BEVERLY, Mass. — Senior catcher Hunter Boyce (Bangor, Maine) delivered a go-ahead RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth inning and junior reliever Will Bryant (Cumberland, Maine) closed the door for his ninth save of the season as the No. 20 ranked Endicott baseball team won 5-4 over St. Joseph's (Maine) on Tuesday afternoon at North Field.
Boyce's contact came with one out in the bottom of the eighth which plated freshman first baseman Kyle Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.) who had tripled to right center to lead off the inning. For Boyce, it was his first RBI of the season.
Gulls senior right-hander Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass.) was the winning pitcher (2-0) as he came on relief to escape a bases loaded, two-out jam in the top of the seventh by forcing a fly out to end the inning. Molle allowed a game-tying sacrifice fly by Monks senior centerfielder Chris Gerossie (Chester, N.H.) in the top of the eighth but got the third out of the inning on a swinging strike to keep the game tied at 4-4.
St. Joseph's (Maine) saw junior outfielder Jared Gagne (Dover, N.H.) push the Monks ahead 3-2 in the top of the fifth on a two-out, two-RBI single to right to score Gerossie and junior first baseman Noah McDaniel (Eliot, Maine). The Gulls responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to regain the lead thanks to RBI hits by senior second baseman Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) and freshman designated hitter Nickolas Perkins (Nashua, N.H.).
DeDonato finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a RBI, and two stolen bases.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott improved to 8-16 all-time against St. Joseph's (Maine) and broke a recent two-game losing skid against the Monks.
- Gulls starting pitcher, freshman Jacob Thibault (Methuen, Mass.), took a no-decision after going 4 2/3 IP with three earned runs surrendered on two hits and three walks with one strikeout.
- Alexander Mandrus (Acton, Mass.) continued his strong 2018 campaign with 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed and one strikeout.
- Senior leftfielder Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) recorded a sacrifice fly on the bottom of the fourth.
FOR THE FOES
- St. Joseph's (Maine) senior reliever Josh Partridge (Deerfield, N.H.) took the loss (1-2) after giving up Boyce's go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the eighth.
- Starting pitcher Zach Begin (Georgetown, Mass.) tossed 4 2/3 IP with four runs, three earned, on three hits, three walks, and a strikeout.
- Gagne led the Monks with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a run, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases.
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 20 Endicott (15-3), winners of seven games in-a-row travels to Salem St. on Thursday, April 12 for a 3:30 PM first pitch. St. Joseph's (Maine) dropped to 16-6 and will travel to Southern Maine on Thursday, April 12 or a 3:30 PM start.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
