Shamas Gem Highlights Baseball's Wins at Newbury

WATERTOWN, Mass. -- The Mitchell College baseball team opened conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Newbury College on Sunday afternoon by final scores of 6-3 and 3-0 at Victory Field.

Reigning NECC Rookie of the Week Tyler Shamas completed the sweep of the twin bill by tossing a one-hit gem. The right-hander kept the Nighthawks off balance the entire game and struck out a career best 10 batters while walking two.

Newbury's Chris Ninteau went up against Mitchell rookie right-hander Al Jordan Johnson in the opener. Johnson got the best of the match-up, going 6.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out two and walking four. The Mariners tagged Ninteau for six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. Freshman Josh Zurita pitched a clean seventh inning for Mitchell to record the save.

In the first game, the Mariners wasted little time and jumped on the scoreboard early with two runs in the first. With two aboard following a one-out base hit into left field by junior shortstop Marc Dorsi, it appeared as if Ninteau was going to get out of the inning unscathed. However, sophomore Evan Peck rocked a two-out triple into the right-center field gap to drive in classmate Gavin LaLima and Dorsi.

The lead was short-lived. Steven Broy opened the home half of the second inning with a stand-up triple. Michael Perillo then brought him home by lining a laser back up the middle to cut the Mitchell lead in half. After Cameron D'Agostino executed the hit-and-run to perfection, pushing a single through the right side of the infield, he later advanced into scoring position on a throwing error that allowed Perillo to score from third to tie the ballgame at 2-2. Moments later, following a walk to Craig Barnet, D'Agostino came in the backdoor, on a double-steal, to give the Nighthawks their first lead of the game at 3-2.

Ninteau settled down and retired the side in order in the top of the third, but the Mariners were able to get to him for a run in fourth and make it a brand new ballgame. After getting two quick outs via the strikeout, Ninteau gave up a double to sophomore Drew Doyle that kept the inning alive. Freshman  Nova Crespo then followed suit with a double of his own into right field to knot the contest at 3-3.

The game remained all square for the next two innings before Mitchell squeaked out a run in the top of the sixth to regain a 4-3 lead. The Mariners added two more insurance runs an inning later en route to the 6-3 game one victory.

Travis Wade took the ball in game two for the Nighthawks and escaped a first inning jam. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he got Peck to ground out to threat. In the home half of the frame, the Nighthawks had their best opportunity at getting to Shamas. After Perillo worked a one-out walk, Ryan Zahornasky beat out an infield single between first and second. It turned out to be Newbury's only hit of the game.

Wade kept the Mariners off the scoreboard for the first two innings before allowing two runs across in the top of the third. That would be enough for Shamas, who after allowing the hit went on to retire the next 10 Nighthawk batters—including four by way of the strikeout—before allowing Broy to reach on a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the fourth.

After the Mariners added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, the Nighthawks had one last opportunity to tie up the contest an inning later. Despite striking out with two outs, D'Agostino prolonged Newbury's life by reaching first on a passed ball. Shamas was unperturbed, ending the game with his 10th strikeout to complete his first career shutout.

The two teams will complete their weekend series with a nine inning contest on Monday, March 18 at Alumni Field. First pitch, originally slated for 3 p.m., has been moved up to 2 p.m.