Baseball Cruises to Doubleheader Sweep of Husson

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team ran their winning streak to seven games by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Husson University on Sunday, slugging past the Eagles 17-8 in the opener before taking the nightcap by a 6-2 final.

The Mariners pounded out 13 hits in the first game, rallying from a two run deficit in the bottom of the seventh to pull away down the stretch. Kenny Heon (Uncasville, Conn.) earned his first victory of the season by tossing four and one third innings of one run ball in relief of starter Tyler Daly (Wallingford, Conn.). Heon allowed only three hits and struck out five, as Mitchell produced 17 or more runs for the fourth time this spring.

The Mariners rode the arm of Chris Gibbs (New Britain, Conn.) in the second game of the twin bill, as the sophomore surrendered just two runs, both unearned, over seven innings. The righty gave up just five hits and zero walks while striking out five, improving his record to 3-0.

The Mariners (13-3 overall, 2-0 NECC) will return to action on Wednesday, March 29, when they travel to face UMass Dartmouth in a non-conference matchup.

Game 1 – Mitchell 17, Husson 8

The early stages of this game were back and forth, with the Eagles taking the lead first before the Mariners jumped ahead, only to have Husson regain a 7-4 advantage on a two run single by Keegan Cyr in the top of the fifth. Matt Falk (Enfield, Conn.) belted his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 7-5 ballgame, before a Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) three run blast the next inning game the home squad an 8-7 edge.

A passed ball in the seventh allowed Husson to climb back on top by one run, but the Mariners would take the lead for good on a two-run single off the bat of Thai-ler Sestokas (Danbury, Conn.) in the bottom half of the inning. Mitchell then scored seven more runs in the eighth, highlighted by a bases clearing double by Bo Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.).

Lelo Martinez (New London, Conn.) powered the Mitchell offense, finishing 4-5 with one RBI and three runs scored, while Yaworski, DelaCruz, and Owen Robbins (East Lyme, Conn.) had two hits apiece. Yaworski also drove in a team-best four runs.

Game 2 – Mitchell 6, Husson 2

The Mariners continued to swing the bat well out of the gate in the second game, plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning as DelaCruz hit an RBI double and Martinez an RBI single. That would be more than enough offense for Gibbs, who dominated the Eagles up and down the lineup. Husson managed two runs following a Mitchell error to avoid the shutout, but managed only five hits against the sophomore righty Chris Gibbs.

Yaworski and DelaCruz each had two hits in the second outing, while Matt Falk and Lelo Martinez collected two RBI apiece.

Alex Smith was effective out of the bullpen for Husson, pitching four and two third innings of one run ball, allowing just four hits and striking out three.