Baseball Sweeps Newbury, Earns #2 Seed for NECC Championship

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Mitchell College baseball team wrapped up the second seed for the upcoming NECC Championship with a 2-0 victory over Newbury College on Sunday night in a game played at Boston College.

Mitchell improved to 15-12 overall and 10-5 in the NECC. The Mariners will face third-seeded Becker College on Friday, May 7 in a game hosted by top-seeded Daniel Webster College. The three-day, double-elimination tournament runs May 7-9.

Before the game the Nighthawks honored seniors Hayato Iwahori and Jamison Torres for their dedication to the baseball program.

Mitchell junior Jeff Perillo helped put the Mariners on the board early. Leading off the top of the fourth, he rocketed a double down the third-base line and advanced 90 feet on a passed ball by Newbury catcher Patrick Curry. He scored the game’s first run on a wild-pitch to the back-stop before junior John McGarry walked with one out to continue the inning.

Starting pitcher Andrew Langlais helped his own cause, lining a single through the vacant hole at shortstop as Russell DeMatties was pulled out of position with McGarry running with the pitch. With runners at the corners and one out, Newbury starter Jorge Pimentel walked senior Jared Bishop to load the bases. Following the walk, he then uncorked a wild pitch to plate McGarry with the game’s second run.

Despite the loss, the Nighthawks (6-26 overall, 4-11 NECC) still played solid defense. Right fielder Robert Atkinson robbed sophomore Tommy Derosier snagging a slicing line drive out of the air to end the top of the third. First baseman Alex Chetelat tallied a game-high 12 put-outs while freshman Aqib Shah recorded a game-high six assists from second base.

After being robbed of extra bases five innings prior, Derosier paid the Nighthawks back. DeMatties lined a frozen rope down the third baseline that Derosier made a full extension, diving grab, to rob the Nighthawk shortstop of extra bases. On the mound, Langlais went the distance and kept Newbury off balance striking out nine Nighthawks while scattering seven hits and walking none.