Colby-Sawyer Hands Baseball First GNAC Loss of the Season

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Mitchell College baseball team suffered their first loss in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Thursday afternoon, falling to Colby-Sawyer College 11-4 at Kelsey Field.

The Mariners jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first on a two-run home run off the bat of senior Cole Lalli (Coventry, Conn.), his team-leading sixth of the season. Cooper O'Brien laced an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to make it a one-run game, but a Robbie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) run scoring single to left field in the top of the second pushed the Mitchell lead to 3-1.

The Charger's bats then erupted for five runs in the top of the second, as Dylan Watson and Cam Carignon both hit RBI singles, and Cooper O'Brien belted a three run homer. Colby-Sawyer added another run in the fifth, before an RBI double by Mitchell senior Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) in the sixth made it a 7-4 game. Four more runs came across to score for the Chargers in the seventh inning, giving starting pitcher Zach Rogers all the support he needed.

Rogers allowed four runs over seven and two third innings to pick up his third win of the spring. Cooper O'Brien finished 3-5 with four RBI and one run scored at the plate, while Cam Carigan was also 3-5, driving in three and scoring twice.

Mitchell sophomore Jacob Quiles took the loss after surrendering seven runs (six earned) over six innings of work. Lalli was 2-5 with a home run and two RBI, while senior Owen Robbins (East Lyme, Conn.) added a pair of hits, including a double.

The Mariners (25-9, 12-1 GNAC) will return to action on Saturday, April 27th, with a home GNAC doubleheader against Elms College, which will also serve as senior day. The Chargers (20-12, 9-4 GNAC) host the University of Saint Joseph on Friday, April 26th.