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Photo Credit: Jon Endow
Photo Credit: Jon Endow

Baseball Outlasts Babson to Open NCAA Regionals

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Mitchell College baseball team kicked off their NCAA Tournament run by outlasting No. 21 Babson College 4-3 on Friday afternoon in the second game of the Babson Park Regional at Govoni Field.

The Mariners (33-11) advance into the winner's bracket of the four team double-elimination tournament and will face ninth-ranked Salisbury University on Saturday with first pitch set for 12:00 pm. The Beavers (30-12) will look to starve off elimination when they battle UMass-Dartmouth Saturday morning at 8:30 am. The Corsairs were defeated by the Sea Gulls 7-0 earlier Friday at Govoni Field.

Junior Chris Gibbs (New Britain, Conn.) tossed a complete game for the Mariners, scattering six hits and three runs (two earned), walking one and striking out seven.

Freshman Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) led the Mitchell offense, finishing with three hits, including the go-ahead double in the eighth inning. Senior Robbie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) went 2-3 with two walks and scored a pair of runs, while Cole Lalli (Coventry, Conn.), Jack Hayes (New Milford, Conn.), and Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) each drove in a run.

The Mariners wasted no time breaking the ice in the top of the first, as Robbie DelaCruz worked a one out walk, advanced to second on a base hit by Michael Ficocelli, and came around to score the first run of the game on an RBI single off the bat of Jack Hayes. Chas Terni Jr. was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, before Michael Gajda made it a 2-0 game in favor of the Mariners with a single into leftfield.

Babson got one back in the bottom of the second, plating a run off Chris Gibbs when senior Luca Rubin laced an RBI single to right field.

After the Mariners chased Babson starter James Clark in the top of the fourth, they pushed their third run of the day across when Cole Lalli ripped a single into left field to score Angel Galindez (Carolina PR), who had reached base when he was hit by a pitch with one out.

Back to back singles by Babson to lead off the bottom of the fifth set host Beavers up with two on and nobody out, and the base runners advanced when Tanner Santos laid down a sacrifice bunt to third base. Both Beavers then came around to score on a wild pitch which skipped to the backstop, knotting the score at 3-3.

Thai-ler Sestokas (Danbury, Conn.) led off the sixth with a bunt single and advanced to second one batter later on a wild pitch thrown by Babson reliever Jason Finkelstein. A passed ball on ball four walked Robbie DelaCruz and advanced Sestokas to third, but the Mariners stranded both, as Finkelsein stuck out Cole Lalli and got Ficocelli to fly out to right field. Mitchell threatened again with runners on the corners in the top of the seventh with two down, but again it was Finkelsein escaping trouble by getting Sestokas to line out to the second baseman.

The Mariners began their go-ahead rally with one out in the bottom of the seventh when DelaCruz singled up the middle with one away. A failed pickoff attempt moved DelaCruz to second base, and after Lalli went down on strikes, Ficocelli delivered his third hit of the day, a run scoring single to centerfield.

Brant Savage started the eighth inning with a double down the right field line for the Beavers, but was thrown out at second after Gibbs induced a groundout and caught Savage too far off the base. Gibbs then retired the next two batters to get through the frame.

Gibbs came back out for the ninth, and finished the job by retiring the Beavers in order to earn his 10th win of the season, tying Al Jordan Johnson for the individual season record in the Division III era of the program.

James Clark started for the Beavers and lasted three and one third innings, giving up three hits and three runs. Finklestein took the loss and dropped to 8-3 on the spring, allowing just one unearned run across four innings of work. Brant Savage and Luca Rubin had two hits apiece in the loss, Rubin had the lone Babson RBI, and Jack Julian singled and scored a run.

Meet The Coach
Mar01

Postponed
Coast Guard
VS Mitchell
Mar02

Final - 7 innings
0 Albertus Magnus
11 VS Mitchell
Mar04

Postponed
Salem St.
VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Mar04

Postponed
Salem St.
VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Mar07

Final
2 Westfield St.
16 VS Mitchell
Mar09

Final
8 Kean
14 VS Mitchell
@ Punta Gorda, Fla. Snowbird Baseball
Mar10

Final
10 Mitchell
6 VS Heidelberg
@ Port Charlotte, FL Snowbird Baseball
Mar11

Final
6 Mitchell
10 VS Denison
@ Port Charlotte, FL Snowbird Baseball
Mar12

Final
19 Mitchell
7 VS Wooster
@ Port Charlotte, FL Snowbird Baseball
Mar14

Final - 7 innings
13 Coe
12 VS Mitchell
@ Auburndale, FL RussMatt Invitational
Mar14

Final - 7 innings
3 Mitchell
1 VS Coe
@ Auburndale, FL RussMatt Invitational
Mar15

Final - 7 innings
1 Mitchell
2 VS Minn.-Morris
@ Davenport, FL RussMatt Invitational
Mar15

Final - 7 innings
0 Minn.-Morris
8 VS Mitchell
@ Davenport, FL RussMatt Invitational
Mar16

Final - 8 innings
20 Mitchell
7 VS Marymount (Va.)
@ Davenport, Fla. RussMatt Invitational
Mar21

Final
1 Bridgewater St.
17 VS Mitchell
Mar24

Final - 7 innings
0 New England Col.
7 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Mar24

Final - 7 innings
1 New England Col.
16 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Mar26

Final - 9 innings
8 Husson
17 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader (7 & 9)
Mar26

Final - 7 innings
2 Husson
6 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader (7 & 9)
Mar29

Final
19 Mitchell
3 AT Mass.-Dartmouth
Apr01

Final - 7 innings
12 Mitchell
1 AT Eastern Nazarene
at Libby Field - Weymouth, Mass.
Apr01

Final - 7 innings
12 Mitchell
1 AT Eastern Nazarene
at Libby Field - Weymouth, Mass.
Apr02

Final
4 Mitchell
6 AT Western New Eng.
Apr05

Final
5 Anna Maria
6 VS Mitchell
Apr06

Final
4 Mitchell
3 AT Clark University
Apr08

Final - 7 innings
4 Lesley
7 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Apr08

Final - 7 innings
0 Lesley
9 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Apr11

Final
13 Mitchell
3 AT Wesleyan (Conn.)
Apr12

Final - 7 innings
3 Mass. Maritime
18 VS Mitchell
Apr15

Final
4 Mitchell
0 AT New England Col.
Doubleheader
Apr15

Final
13 Mitchell
1 AT New England Col.
Doubleheader
Apr16

Final - 7 innings
12 Salve Regina
5 VS Mitchell
Apr16

Final
15 Salve Regina
7 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader (7 & 9)
Apr19

Final
11 Mitchell
7 AT Keene St.
Apr22

Final - 7 innings
8 Mitchell
3 AT Lesley
Doubleheader
Apr22

Final - 7 innings
7 Mitchell
0 AT Lesley
Doubleheader
Apr26

Final
4 Mitchell
8 AT Stonehill
Apr28

Final - 7 innings
3 Eastern Nazarene
2 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
Apr28

Final - 7 innings
5 Eastern Nazarene
11 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader
May05

Final
2 Lesley
3 VS Mitchell
NECC Championship Game 1
May06

Final
2 New England Col.
28 VS Mitchell
NECC Championship Game 4
May07

Final
2 Eastern Nazarene
15 VS Mitchell
NECC Championship
May19

Final
6 Mitchell
5 VS Tufts
@ New London, Conn. NCAA New London, Conn. Regional: Game 2
May21

Final
4 Wheaton (Mass.)
7 VS Mitchell
@ New London, Conn. NCAA New London, Conn. Regional: Game 4
May22

Final
6 Wheaton (Mass.)
5 VS Mitchell
@ New London, Conn. NCAA New London, Conn. Regional: Game 6
May22

Final
3 Mitchell
5 VS Wheaton (Mass.)
@ New London, Conn. NCAA New London, Conn. Regional: Game 7
Feb17

Final
8 Mitchell
4 AT William Peace
USA Baseball NTC | Cary, N.C.
Feb17

Final - 7 innings
17 Mitchell
5 AT William Peace
Doubleheader | USA Baseball NTC | Cary, N.C.
Feb18

Final - 7 innings
7 Mitchell
17 AT William Peace
Doubleheader | USA Baseball NTC | Cary, N.C.
Mar03

Final
2 Brandeis
7 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar06

Postponed
0 Coast Guard
0 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar08

Final - 10 innings
4 Wis.-Oshkosh
5 VS Mitchell
@ Winter Haven, Fla Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar09

Final
6 Mitchell
5 VS Coe
@ Davenport, FL Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar10

Final
13 Southern Me.
3 VS Mitchell
@ Sanford, Fla. Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar11

Final
6 Mitchell
10 AT #23 Webster
Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar13

Final - 7 innings
2 Spalding
10 VS Mitchell
@ Auburndale, Fla. Russmatt Baseball Invitational (DH 7 Innings)
Mar13

Final - 8 innings
6 Mitchell
4 VS Spalding
@ Auburndale, FL Russmatt Baseball Invitational (DH 7 Innings)
Mar14

Final - 7 innings
21 #9 Johns Hopkins
2 VS Mitchell
@ Auburndale, FL Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar15

Final
9 Mitchell
7 VS Brockport
@ Auburndale, FL Russmatt Baseball Invitational
Mar19

Final
10 MIT
6 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar20

Final
2 Mitchell
27 AT #8 Salve Regina
Reynolds Field | Newport, R.I.
Mar22

Final
3 Saint Joseph's (Me.)
4 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar24

Final
2 Norwich
8 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar26

Final
6 Mitchell
1 AT Lasell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar27

Final
3 Clark University
5 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar29

Final
1 New England Col.
4 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader 9 & 7 | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar29

Final - 7 innings
3 New England Col.
10 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader 9 & 7 | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar30

Final
8 Albertus Magnus
11 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Mar30

Final - 7 innings
2 Albertus Magnus
22 VS Mitchell
Doubleheader | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr03

Postponed
Mitchell
AT Mass. Maritime
Commodore Hendy Field | Bourne, Mass.
Apr05

Final
3 Mitchell
6 AT #22/#23 Eastern Conn. St.
Eastern Baseball Stadium | Mansfield, Conn.
Apr07

Final
8 Mitchell
5 AT Anna Maria
Alumni Field | New London, Conn. (Mitchell College)
Apr10

Final
2 Mitchell
9 AT John Jay
Houlihan Park (Fordham University) | Bronx, N.Y.
Apr11

Final
6 Hartford
15 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr13

Final
12 Mitchell
4 AT Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Doubleheader | USJ Baseball Field | West Hartford, Conn.
Apr13

Final - 7 innings
16 Mitchell
2 AT Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Doubleheader | USJ Baseball Field - West Hartford, Conn.
Apr17

Final
7 Keene St.
8 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr18

Final - 8 innings
8 Mitchell
7 AT Coast Guard
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr21

Final
5 Dean
21 VS Mitchell
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr22

Final
7 Mitchell
5 AT Johnson & Wales (RI)
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr23

Final - 7 innings
13 Mitchell
1 AT Rivier
Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr25

Final
4 Mitchell
11 AT Colby-Sawyer
Kelsey Baseball Field | New London, N.H.
Apr27

Final
2 Elms
6 VS Mitchell
Senior Day | Doubleheader | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr27

Final
8 Elms
15 VS Mitchell
Senior Day | Doubleheader | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
Apr28

Final - 8 innings
4 Mitchell
14 AT Johnson & Wales (RI)
Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex | Providence, R.I.
May03

Final
6 #8 Saint Joseph's (Me.)
15 VS #1 Mitchell
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | Mitchell College | New London, Conn.
May04

Final
10 #4 Colby-Sawyer
19 VS #1 Mitchell
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | New London, Conn.
May05

Final
9 #4 Colby-Sawyer
3 VS #1 Mitchell
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | Mitchell College | New London, Conn.
May05

Final
1 #4 Colby-Sawyer
7 VS #1 Mitchell
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | Mitchell College | New London, Conn.
May09

Final
1 #2 Johnson & Wales (RI)
3 VS #1 Mitchell
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | Mitchell College | New London, Conn.
May10

Final
5 #1 Mitchell
4 AT #2 Johnson & Wales (RI)
GNAC Tournament | Alumni Field | Mitchell College | New London, Conn.
May17

Final
4 Mitchell
3 AT Babson
Babson Park Regional | Game 2
May18

Final
1 Salisbury
5 VS Mitchell
NCAA Babson Park Regional - Game 4
May19

Final
15 Salisbury
0 VS Mitchell
@ Babson Park, MA NCAA Regional Final
May19

Final
0 Mitchell
11 VS Salisbury
@ Babson Park, MA NCAA Regional Final
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