Baseball Splits With Becker

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team split a doubleheader against Becker College on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 10-7 before falling 3-1 in the nightcap.

The loss was the first in conference play for the Mariners (9-4-1 overall, 4-1 NECC). Becker's record moved to 11-6 overall and 4-4 in the league.

Game 1 – Mitchell 10, Becker 7

All nine Mitchell batters finished with a hit as the Mariners erased five- and two-run deficits in the game. Junior right-hander John Apostolo threw 6.2 innings and struck out eight to improve to 4-1 on the season for Mitchell.

Becker scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. The first three runs came via the long ball, as Keith Kandel led off with a solo homer and Weston Meehan followed with a two-run bomb. Manny Sanchez capped the rally with a two-out double to center field that plated two runs.

Mitchell responded with five runs of its own in the bottom of the third. Freshman Anthony Santiago drove in a pair with a single to center and then scored on an RBI single by junior Gus Maclao. Junior Felix Colarte later doubled in the frame to drive in two more runs as the Mariners pulled even at 5-5.

The Hawks picked up a run in the fourth on a ground out by Joe Corey and took a 7-5 lead in the fifth on an RBI single to right by Todd Tompkins. Tompkins went 1-for-1 in the game but reached base safely in all four plate appearances (two walks, hit by pitch).

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Mariners put up another five-spot in the fifth. Back-to-back singles by senior Jeff Perillo and Maclao set the table for Apostolo, who helped his own cause with an RBI single up the middle. Sophomore Osmer Collado then gave Mitchell the lead when his double to the gap in right-center plated two runs. Junior Angel Chacon followed with a single to bring in two more runs that left the Mariners with a 10-7 advantage.

Becker put runners on base in the sixth and the seventh but couldn't close the gap. Mitchell senior Drew Rossi nailed down the win by striking out the final batter to earn his second save of the season. Apostolo, who allowed seven runs on 11 hits, picked up his second conference victory of the season.

The Hawks left nine runners on base for the game. Starter Errick Maddern pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 10 runs on 12 hits while striking out five. Tony Cantalupo threw 1.2 innings of relief and didn't allow a hit.

Game 2 – Becker 3, Mitchell 1

Becker right-hander Matt Grenier scattered six hits over 7.0 innings to earn the victory. He allowed one run while striking out four and improved to 4-0 on the season.

The Hawks got on the board in the second inning when Meehan led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch. Becker added a run in the third when Kandel scored from third on a balk and tacked on another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to right by Tompkins that scored Cody Ewest.

The 3-0 lead would be enough for Grenier, who didn't allow a run through the first five innings. He also got some stellar defensive help, including the play of the game Corey in the fifth. Mitchell had a runner on first when Santiago blasted a shot to center that Corey tracked back to the fence. He caught the ball while running backward at full speed and held on after tumbling over the fence. The play saved a run and kept Santiago from extra bases.

Mitchell finally found the scoring column in the sixth thanks to a leadoff homer by Apostolo, his team-leading fourth of the season. The mistake didn't rattle Grenier, as he retired six out of the next seven batters to end the game.

Freshman Jon Blair took the ball for the Mariners and pitched a complete game in defeat. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four without issuing a walk.

Mitchell will host Becker on Sunday at noon as the teams wrap up the weekend series.