NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team won the first two games of a New England Collegiate Conference series with Daniel Webster College on Saturday by a pair of 5-1 finals at Alumni Field.
The Mariners (17-3 overall, 7-1 NECC) got strong outings from starting pitchers Al Jordan Johnson and Tyler Shamas in the sweep. Johnson improved to 5-0 in the opener and allowed one run on six hits while striking out nine in 6.0 innings. Shamas allowed only two hits in his first complete game of the spring and improved to 2-0.
Mitchell and Daniel Webster (6-13 overall, 2-8 NECC) will wrap up the series with a single nine-inning game on Sunday, April 10 in Nashua, N.H.
Game 1 – Mitchell 5, Daniel Webster 1
After Johnson struck out three batters in the top of the first inning, his teammates provided him with plenty of run support in the home half. The Mariners pushed across four runs on only one hit but benefitted from several DWC miscues. Mitchell got on the scoreboard courtesy of a bases-loaded balk, and Chandler Whitney followed with an infield grounder to make it 2-0. He then got caught in a run-down on a steal attempt but ended up on second due to an error, and in the process another run scored. Garet Griffin then capped the frame with a two-out, RBI double to make it 4-0.
Daniel Webster loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Johnson escaped trouble by getting a ground ball force at home and a strikeout. The Eagles put a runner on base in every inning but didn't capitalize until the sixth when Zack Cartwright singled to center to score pinch runner Rodolfo Acosta.
Mitchell reliever Domenick Giaramida recorded the final three outs in the seventh to seal the victory. Daniel Webster starter Costa Tingas allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out five in 6.0 innings.
Cartwright went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Eagles. Whitney, who added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, finished with two RBI for the Mariners.
Game 2 – Mitchell 5, Daniel Webster 1
Mitchell took the early lead on a single up the middle by Francis Prettitore that scored Griffin in the first inning. Daniel Webster tied the game in the third on an RBI double to left by Cartwright, but the Mariners got the run back in the home half to go up 2-1.
The score remained the same until the sixth when Mitchell manufactured three runs. The rally began with two outs as Prettitore and Whitney set the table with back-to-back singles, and Jack Finnegan followed with a single to right to bring in the first run. Dan Frattaroli then put a ball into the hole in the right side of the infield; a diving stop by the DWC second baseman kept the ball in the infield, but Frattaroli hustled down the line to beat the throw at first, and two runs scored as Finnegan motored home from second on the play.
Shamas wouldn't need the extra runs as he set down the side in order in the seventh. He retired the last 13 batters he faced and finished with four strikeouts.
DWC starter Nick Goodin yielded five runs (four earned) on seven hits and struck out five in 6.0 innings.
