Baseball Stays Undefeated in Conference by Sweeping Lesley

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team took both games of a doubleheader against Lesley University on Saturday afternoon to remain undefeated in New England Collegiate Conference play. The Mariners, who improved their record to 6-0 within the conference, took the opening game 7-4 before coasting to a 9-0 victory in the second game of the twin bill.

Ryan Solimine (Danbury, Conn.) picked up the win for Mitchell in the opener, tossing a seven-inning complete game, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out six Lynx (8-13 overall, 0-3 NECC) batters. Eddie Kaftan (Old Lyme, Conn.) got the start for the Mariners in the second game and was dominant, working six scoreless innings, surrendering just six hits and one walk, while John Novak (Colchester, Conn.) came out of the bullpen and retired Lesley in order to end the game.

The Mariners (20-4 overall, 6-0 NECC) return to action on Tuesday, April 11, when they visit Wesleyan University for a non-conference matchup.

Game 1 – Mitchell 7, Lesley 4

The Mariners opened up the day by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on a passed ball and an RBI double by senior Matt Falk (Enfield, Conn.) The Lynx answered right back and jumped ahead when Ian Dempsey belted a grand slam over the left field fence.

Mitchell knotted the score in the bottom of the third when Lelo Martinez (New London, Conn.) ripped an RBI single then came home to score moments later on a wild pitch. The Mariners would tack on one more run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, while Solimine bounced back after allowing the home run, closing the game with five scoreless frames. Bo Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) and Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) had two hits apiece for Mitchell in the win.

Patrick Teasdale took the loss for Lesley, allowing five runs across three and one third innings of work. Adam Budorick collected two hits for the Lynx, while Dempsey drove in all four of their runs.

Game 2 – Mitchell 9, Lesley 0

The Mariners wasted no time establishing a lead in game number two, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first before adding five more in the second. Bo Yaworski led Mitchell by going 3-3 with three RBI and two runs scored at the plate, including his fifth home run of the season, a two-run bomb in the bottom of the second inning.

Dougie DelaCruz, Lelo Martinez, and Angel Galindez (Carolina, PR) each also had multiple hits for Mitchell, who had scored all nine runs by the time the third inning was over.

Brian Jacobus gave up seven runs in one and one third innings for Lesley, while Jake Samela went 2-3 at the plate.