Baseball Falls To Regionally-Ranked Endicott, 3-1, In Northern Opener

Beverly, MA -- Endicott freshman Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, MA) went 2-for-3 with the go-ahead RBI triple to help pace the Gulls to a 3-1 victory over Worcester State in non-conference baseball action this afternoon at North Field.

Endicott (4-5), who are ranked seventh in the first New England Intercollegiate Baseball (NEIBA) poll of the season, took advantage of an error to take over the 1-0 edge in the bottom of the fourth.

Following a walk and a steal of second, freshman Brad Rebello (Bellingham, MA) moved to third on an error by the shortstop. Junior Matthew Paola (Middlebury, CT) then grounded out to second to plate Rebello.

The Lancers (5-7) soon tied up the score 1-1 in the top of the sixth.

After senior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) singled with one out to start the rally, senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) doubled to put two runners in scoring position before sophomore Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) knocked in the equalizer with a long fly to center.

Worcester State had another potential rally in the top of the seventh, but Endicott took advantage of a key double play that rung up a batter at the plate and throw out senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA), who tried to steal second.

The change in momentum gave the Gulls what they needed to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth.

Junior Cody Hall (Rutland, MA) doubled to start the uprising and then DeDonato traded places with Hall for the go-ahead run on an RBI triple.

Endicott tacked on an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Cam Farnham (Andover, MA) for the 3-1 edge entering the ninth.

As two outs read on the scoreboard in right center, sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) singled to keep a nine-game hitting streak alive, but the next batter was retired to help give junior Davarn Nova (Buzzards Bay, MA/Coyle Cassidy) his first stop of the campaign.

Reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year, junior JJ Branch (Milford, MA), was solid through eight innings of work as he permitted the lone earned run to go with five hits and six strikeouts. Branch (1-1) did not issue a free pass.  

Senior Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA), who came on in the sixth, was tagged with the loss. Perlak (1-1) yielded two earned runs on two hits without a strikeout or a walk.

Senior Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) started the contest for the Lancers and he hurled three scoreless frames. This week's MASCAC Pitcher of the Week fanned one and he gave up a solo base-knock on an infield single with two men down in the third.

Worcester State actually outhit the Gulls, 6-3, highlighted by a 2-for-3 performance by George. Ruggiero also kept an 11-contest hitting streak intact on an infield single to lead off the seventh.

Endicott had three steals as a team with DeDonato recording one of them.

Both squads continue their non-league schedules with tough opponents in 3:30 starts tomorrow. The Blue and Gold will play regionally-ranked WPI tomorrow at the New England Sports Complex in Northboro while the Gulls take on #9/12 Southern Maine.

The locally based Engineers were fifth in the NEIBA Poll while the Huskies captured five first place votes for the top spot in the inaugural regional coaches poll.

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