Baseball Tops Johnson & Wales 9-8

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Mitchell College baseball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 9-8 victory over Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday afternoon at Pierce Field.

Mitchell took the early 3-0 lead on a three-run home run by sophomore Ethan Graynor in the top of the first. JWU responded in the bottom of the inning, closing the gap to 3-2 on a two-run single by sophomore Zach Boyes. 

The visiting Mariners extended their lead to 5-2 in the top of the second with a pair of unearned runs. Once again, the Wildcats responded in the bottom of the frame and knotted the score at 5-5 after a two-run double by junior Nick Alosco and an RBI double by junior Teddy Katz. 

Mitchell regained the lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by freshman Connor Rochefort and took a 7-5 advantage on a solo home run by junior John McGarry. JWU again tied the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth after a two-run home run by senior Jonathan Melendez.

Graynor’s two-run double in the top of the sixth put Mitchell ahead 9-7, but JWU cut the lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Melendez. The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t push a run across as Mitchell held on for the one-run victory.

Graynor was 3-for-5 with five RBI for Mitchell while Rochefort was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Graynor also recorded the save for Mitchell, pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Katz went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI for Johnson & Wales while Melendez went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Alsoco had two hits, two runs and two RBI for JWU.

With the loss Johnson & Wales dropped to 3-17 while Mitchell evened its record at 5-5 on the season. Junior starter Cody Faddis picked up his first win on the hill for the Mariners, going seven innings and allowing eight runs on 10 hits.

Mitchell begins conference play at Elms College on Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m.