Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Baseball split a doubleheader with Eastern Nazarene College on Friday afternoon at J. Tec White Field. The Scots had the offensive motor running in game one, winning 4-1, but they couldn't figure out the Lions' pitching in a game two loss, 3-0.
The first inning was rather quiet, with both teams stranding a runner on second base as the offenses got their first look at the starting pitchers. The second provided much more entertainment with the heart of each lineup getting their first shots at the plate.
Scott Hall looked sharp early—striking out three of the first five batters he faced with a mix of fastballs and breaking balls. After allowing a single to Pat Yee (Lynnfield, Mass.), Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) hit a comebacker on the ground to Hall.
The Scots' starting pitcher initially fielded it cleanly, but rushed the throw to first base and tossed it over the head of Travis Pullen (Las Vegas, Nev.). The throwing error allowed a run to score and the speedy Wagner got all the third on the play. Hall was able to recover following the gaffe without giving up another run in the inning, but the Scots trailed 1-0 heading into their half of the second.
Gordon benefited from sloppy play on the other side of the diamond as well. Pullen was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second base when Alex Smith (Wethersfield, Conn.) reached on a fielding error by the Lions' third baseman.
Eastern Nazarene starter, Brandon Wells (Rancho Sante Fe, Calif.) got one back by striking out Carlos Pichardo (Dominican Republic) swinging. However, two more errors in the inning brought in four runs for the Scots. Joe Olszak (Danvers, Mass.) reached safely on another error at third base, which scored Pullen and Smith. The Scots last two runs came on a pair of RBI singles by Jesse Amaya (South Gate, Calif.) and Mark Fitzgerald (Camarillo, Calif.).
Gordon would hold the 4-1 advantage into the top of the seventh inning, but the Lions attempted a rally down to their final out. Senior Anthony Berroa laced a fastball down the right-field line for a standup double and Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Relief pitcher Matt Amore (Pequannock, N.J.) got Max Pugh (San Diego, Calif.) to line out to Eric Walker (Danvers, Mass.) at second to end the game.
Hall picked up his third win of the season, while Amore converted on a one-out save in relief.
Game Two A cleaner, quicker second saw two starting pitchers who went the complete game without giving up many hits.
The Lions fourth starter, Quentin Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) stifled the Scots batters, only surrendering two hits in seven innings of work. Gordon's Eric Proulx was equally as impressive, allowing only five hits in a complete-game effort.
Proulx got two quick outs in the top of the second inning, but the Lions caught a break when Kurt Picarelli (Montrose, N.Y.) hit a liner past a diving Dawson Tefft (West Granby, Conn.) in left field and rattled around in the corner. Picarelli got all the way to third and scored Jake Koch (Dayton, Nev.) from first for a 1-0 lead.
Spyro Varetimos (North Attleboro, Mass.) earned a 3-2 count as the next batter before shooting a pitch through the gap in right field for a RBI single and two-run lead.
A quiet four innings passed until the Lions (7-8, 1-5 CCC) struck again for a run in the top of the sixth inning. After Berroa singled and was ushered over to second on a sacrifice bunt, Yee ricocheted a ball back up the middle for a 3-0 advantage.
The Scots (12-9, 7-5 CCC_ went down in order in the final two innings and had their five-game conference-win streak ended, 3-0.
Gordon continues a busy week tomorrow in Newport, R.I. with an important matchup at Salve Regina. The Lions turn around for a doubleheader at home against Roger Williams tomorrow at noon.
