BASEBALL FALLS TO SALEM STATE AT RUSSMATT INVITATIONAL, 5-2
AUBURNDALE, FL, March 13, 2009 - Elms College freshman shortstop Jonathan Ortiz (Carolina, Puerto Rico) went 2 for 5 and sophomore pitcher Matt Wood (Feeding Hills, MA) threw four scoreless innings of relief, but Salem State played a pair of runs in both the third and fifth innings then held on for a 5-2 win over the Blazers in a non-conference baseball game at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Friday night.
Elms College finished its trip to Florida 4-6, while Salem State (1-0) won its 2009 season opener.
The Blazers trailed 4-0 before scoring a single run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to 4-1. Salem State scored once more in the ninth and freshman third baseman Nicolino Iavicoli (Longmeadow, MA) added a RBI single in the last of the ninth to complete the scoring.
Freshman starting pitcher Zach LeBarron (Bennington, VT) was tagged for four earned runs in 4.0 innings, but struck out six and allowed just three hits. Wood allowed just a pair of hits and struck out seven in his 4.0 innings on the hill.
Elms College returns to action in 11 days when it hosts
Westfield State in its 2009 home opener on Tuesday, March 24 at
MacKenzie Stadium. Game time is 3:30 p.m.