Baseball Completes Home Sweep of New England College

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team opened New England Collegiate Conference play by sweeping a doubleheader against New England College on Friday afternoon, 7-0 in the opener and 16-1 in the second game of the twin bill.

The Mariners extended their winning streak to five games and remained undefeated at home this spring, as Ryan Solimine (Danbury, Conn.) dominated the Pilgrims early on, tossing a complete game shutout, walking only one and striking out 11. The Mariner bats broke out in a big way in the nightcap, erupting for 15 hits in support of starter Eddie Kaftan (Old Lyme, Conn.), who earned the win by working five innings of one run ball.

The Mariners (11-3 overall, 2-0 NECC) will be back in action on Sunday, March 26, when they host Husson University in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.

Game 1 – Mitchell 7, NEC 0

The Mariners wasted no time taking a lead against their conference rival, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI triple by Bo Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) and an RBI single by Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.). That proved more than enough support for Solimine, who held the Pilgrim bats at bay, allowing just two hits and striking out the side in two of the seven innings.

Mitchell added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Yaworski walked with the bases loaded before DelaCruz knocked home a run with a sacrifice fly. Three more runs scored in the sixth, as DelaCruz ripped a two-run triple and then came home to score on a wild pitch. DelaCruz powered the offense, finishing 3-3 with four RBI and a run scored.

Wyatt Cameron suffered the loss for NEC, throwing six innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. Luca Giallongo and Brett Patnode were the lone Pilgrims to notch base hits off Solimine.

Game 2 – Mitchell 16, NEC 1

The Mariners scored early and often in the second game of the doubleheader, plating five runs in the bottom of the first off Pilgrim starter Alex Perez. Senior Matt Falk (Enfield, Conn.) had a huge day at the plate, finishing 5-5 with a home run, seven RBI, and four runs scored. The homer was the fifth of the season for Falk, which leads the Mariners, as does his 30 RBI through 14 games thus far this spring. Lelo Martinez (New London, Conn.) also went 3-3 and drove in three runs, while DelaCruz notched another multi-hit game.

Eddie Kaftan moved to 3-0 on the season after surrendering just five hits and one run across five innings, while Kenny Heon (Montville, Conn.) and Camren Varney (Manchester, N.H.) each tossed a scoreless inning of relief out of the bullpen.

Perez, who suffered the loss for NEC, was tagged for 12 runs in two and two third innings, and Brendan Hickey also gave up three earned runs in relief. Kyle Dobrie and Luca Giallongo collected two hits apiece for the Pilgrims, while Lachlan Rees drove in the lone run on a pinch hit single to right field.