Baseball Can’t Catch Mount Union in Florida Showdown
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mount Union | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 2 |
DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Mitchell College baseball team pounded out 14 hits and 10 runs on Monday, both season-high figures, but it proved not enough, as the Mariners were defeated 14-10 by the University of Mount Union in non-conference action at the Russmatt Invitational.
Junior Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.) and freshman Ryan Dennis (Enfield, Conn.) both had three hits including a double, while sophomore Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) and senior Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) each belted their first home run of the season in the loss. Gajda drove in a team-high two runs, finishing the day 2-5 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Purple Raiders jumped ahead by tagging Mitchell starter Joshua Scamman (Rochester, N.H.) for four runs in the top of the second. The Mariners got two back in the bottom of the frame after Gajda belted his first home run of the spring to left field, but Mount Union answered with a run of their own in the top of the third to increase their lead to 5-2.
Mitchell added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third after Ficocelli hit a solo homer and junior Bracale scampered home on a balk, before tying the game the following inning on an RBI double off the bat of Ryan Dennis.
Once again, Mount Union had a response, plating two in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout and a run scoring triple by Alex Stegman. The Mariners managed to get a run across in the bottom half of the inning, as Gajda scored on a fielder's choice to make it a 7-6 ballgame in favor of the Purple Raiders, but a two-run blast by Chris Tsouras in the top of the sixth pushed Mount Union ahead, 9-6.
The Mariners refused to go quietly, pushing two runs across in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of RBI singles by Bracale and sophomore Chase Donahue (Shirley, Mass.). After adding another run in the top of the seventh, Mount Union broke the game open with four more runs in the eighth and held on for their fourth win of the season.
Scamman lasted two and two third innings, giving up five runs (three earned). Senior Jadon Canelli (Northford, Conn.) was the next man out of the bullpen and took the loss after surrendering four runs in three and a third innings.
Chris Tsouras powered the Mount Union offense with a 3-5 day at the plate, which included a home run, a double, two RBI, and three runs scored.
Ty Dennison worked two and a third innings of two-run ball out of the bullpen to pick up his second win of the season. Jeremy Moore tossed three innings of two-run ball for his first save.
The Mariners (2-8, 0-0 GNAC) return to action in the Russmatt Invitational on Tuesday, March 11, when they square off against North Park University at 9:15 am from Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Florida. The Purple Raiders (4-4, 0-0 OAC) play next on Friday, March 14, against Johns Hopkins University.
