Baseball Edged by Mighty Macs to Open Spring Break
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
|
Immaculata | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 2 | 9 | 2 |
DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Mitchell College baseball team opened up play on their spring break trip in the Russmatt Invitational on Saturday afternoon, coming out on the wrong end of a 2-1 ballgame against Immaculata University at Northeast Regional Park.
Junior Adam Vartanian (Cumberland, R.I.) and sophomore Chase Donahue (Shirley, Mass.) accounted for all four of the Mitchell hits, collecting two apiece. Vartanian drove in the lone run on the day for the Mariners on a double, scoring Donahue, while the rest of the lineup was held in check by the Immaculata pitching duo of Alex LePage and Derek Andrada.
Senior Eddie Kaftan (Old Lyme, Conn.) was the tough luck losing pitcher, surrendering just one earned run across seven innings while walking three and striking out four. Senior Jadon Canelli (Northford, Conn.) tossed one scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
After producing just one hit through six innings against Immaculata starter Alex LePage, the Mariners broke open a scoreless game in the seventh when Chase Donahue worked a two-out walk, and Vartanian drove him home with an RBI double to left field. The Mighty Macs wasted no time in answering, plating their first run of the day to tie the game on triples by Ryan Struble and Matt Passerini in the bottom half of the frame. A Mitchell error in the infield followed and allowed Passerini to score from third, giving Immaculata a 2-1 edge which they would not relinquish.
The Mariners final chance to extend the game came in the top of the ninth, as Donahue singled with one out and stole second with two away. With the tying run in scoring position, Immaculata relief pitcher Derek Andra da was able to close the door by striking out freshman Ryan Dennis (Enfield, Conn.), preserving the lead to earn his first save of the spring.
Alex LePage earned the win with seven inning of three-hit ball, and Andradan clocked two one-hit innings.
The Mariners (2-6, 0-0 GNAC) will look to rebound on Sunday, March 9, when they battle Washington & Jefferson University in a Russmatt Invitational game in Winter Haven, Florida, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 pm. Fresh off their first win of the season, the Mighty Macs (1-6, 0-0 AEC) will look to make it two in a row when they return to action on Sunday, March 9, in Davenport, Florida, against Russell Sage College.
