Baseball Picks Up Pair of One-Run Wins Over Albertus Magnus

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team picked up a pair of one-run wins over Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Field.

The Mariners (17-3 overall) held on for a 4-3 victory in the opener before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off, 5-4 win in the nightcap. Tyler Pina tied the game with a one-out single and Gavin LaLima forced in the winning run when he was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Tyler Robertson went 4-for-8 with a RBI and three runs scored while Nick Sedia added three hits on the day to lead Albertus Magnus (9-16 overall). 

Mitchell, which has won nine of its last 10 games, will next host Lesley University on Saturday, April 18 at noon. Albertus Magnus returns to action at home against Johnson & Wales University on Friday, April 17 at 4 p.m.

Game 1 – Mitchell 4, Albertus Magnus 3

Mitchell starter Bryton Ferris didn't give up a hit over the first three innings, but the Mariners trailed 1-0 after three as Albertus Magnus manufactured a run in the third. Steven Lockman drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed over to second before taking third on wild pitch. He later scored on a ground out by Sedia for the game's first run.

The Mariners tied the game in the fifth as a bunt single by Rafael Garcia and consecutive hit batters loaded the bases for Peter McTernan, who plated a run with a long fly ball to center field. All three runners tagged up on the play, but Mitchell failed to capitalize further as Falcons starter Jon Criscio got a fly ball to end the inning.

Albertus Magnus pulled ahead 2-1 in the sixth on a RBI single by Anthony Pellegrino that scored Robertson. Mitchell answered back with three runs in the home half of the frame to take a 4-2 lead. Kenneth Olszewski got things started with a double and scored on a two-bagger to right field by Evan Peck. After Peck scored on a fielding error, Pina rapped a single up the middle to score Ryan Goodwin with an insurance run that would prove most beneficial.

Tyler Shamas came in to pitch the seventh for the Mariners and ran into trouble. The Falcons picked up three hits in the frame, including a RBI single by Robertson that made it a one-run game, before Shamas recorded the final out to strand the tying run on second base.

Ferris (3-0 overall) threw 6.0 innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out four. Shamas struck out two and picked up his first save of the season. Criscio (0-3 overall) went 6.0 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits. 

Game 2 – Mitchell 5, Albertus Magnus 4

Robertson led off the nightcap with a double and promptly scored on a single down the right field line by Tyler Graziano. Mitchell loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning and tied the game at 1-1 when McTernan grounded into a double play.

Albertus Magnus scored three runs in the third inning on a rally that began with two walks, a hit batter and an error. The Falcons later plated runs on a ground out by Justin Poirier and a sacrifice fly by Lockman as Mitchell reliever Troy Stango did well to limit the damage in the frame.

The Mariners picked up runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to pull within one. LaLima delivered a RBI single in the fourth while Peck walked, stole a base and scored on an error in the fifth. McTernan then led off the sixth inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but the Albertus Magnus bullpen kept the lead intact.

In the seventh, a one-out single by Goodwin and a walk to Neftali Arroyo put the tying run in scoring position. Pina followed with a single to right-center to score Goodwin, and both runners moved up a base on the throw to the plate. The Falcons then issued a free pass to McTernan to load the bases for a potential force play at the plate, but LaLima took one off his front foot to end the game.

Domenick Giaramida tossed 1.2 innings of shutout relief and didn't allow a hit to earn his first career victory. Stango also played a huge role out of the pen and didn't allow a run in 3.1 innings of work. Aaron Macchia took the loss for the Falcons and dropped to 1-1 on the season.

Peck, Goodwin, Pina and McTernan all finished with a pair of hits in the contest for the Mariners.