Baseball Sweeps USJ, Remains Unbeaten in GNAC Play

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team remained unbeaten in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a Saturday sweep of the University of Saint Joseph at the USJ Baseball Field.

The Mariners took the opener 12-4 then won the second game 16-4, improving their GNAC record to 9-0.

The Mariners (20-8, 9-0 GNAC) return to their home diamond on Wednesday, April 17th with a non-league game against Keene State College. The Blue Jays (10-15-1, 3-6 GNAC) will have a chance to rebound on Sunday, April 14th, when they play conference game at Rivier University.

Game 1 – Mitchell 12, USJ 4

The Mariners pounded out 18 hits on their way to a win in the opening game of the twin bill. Seniors Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) and Jack Hayes (New Milford, Conn.) homered for Mitchell, while freshman Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) also went deep for his third homer of the spring.

Gajda finished 2-3 with a home run, a double, four RBI, and a run scored. Terni Jr. had two hits, including a double and a homer, while scoring twice and driving in two. Freshman Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) went 3-4 with three doubles, while seniors Owen Robbins (East Lyme, Conn.) and Cole Lalli (Coventry, Conn.) each also collected three hits.

After Lawrence Winslow hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to give USJ a 1-0 lead, Terni Jr. doubled and Gajda homered in the top of the second to push Mitchell on top 3-1. Gajda doubled in the third to make it 4-1, before Robbins laced a triple to score one and Lalli ripped an RBI double the following inning to give the Mariners a 6-1 edge.

USJ plated one run in the fourth on a RBI single off the bat of Joseph Fritz, but the Mariners would pull away by scoring at least one run in each of the remaining innings.

Junior Chris Gibbs improved to 5-2 on the season after tossing five innings of two-run ball, striking out six. Sophomore Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.) came out of the bullpen to pitch four innings of two-run ball in relief.

Ethan Slowik took his first loss of the spring, surrendering seven runs across four innings.

Lawrence Winslow and Dom Scalia had three hits apiece for the Blue Jays.

Game 2 – Mitchell 16, USJ 2 (7 Innings)

The Mitchell bats stayed hot and wasted no time in the second game, as the Mariners plated five runs in the top of the first thanks to a sacrifice fly by Cole Lalli, a two-run single to centerfield by Jack Hayes, and an RBI double by freshman Tyler Powell (Middletown, Conn.).

The Mariners continued their offensive onslaught, scoring two in the third, four in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two more in the seventh.

Michael Ficocelli recorded a team-high three hits and three runs. Chas Terni Jr. went 2-5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Jack Hayes finished 2-3 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Tyler Powell and Adam Vartanian tallied two hits apiece, with Vartanian recording two RBI and two runs scored.

Senior Camren Varney (Manchester, N.H.) turned in a dominant performance on the mound, twirling six shutout innings, allowing three hits and four walks, striking our four.

Brandon Cahill gave up 10 runs (seven earned) in three and one third innings to drop to 0-3 on the season.

Tyler Carlstrom and Lawrence Winslow led USJ with two hits apiece.