Baseball Drops Two on Opening Day

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Elms College baseball squad fell in a pair of contests during a non-conference doubleheader against Baruch Saturday afternoon at the Player Development Complex.

The Blazers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as junior Nolan Medeiros (Taunton, Mass.) singled in sophomore Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.). The Bearcats pulled even in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double from junior Matthew Ballone (West Babylon, N.Y.).

Baruch took control in the bottom of the third behind an RBI double from senior Eric Ulino (Long Island City, N.Y.), followed by a bases loaded walk to junior Ardian Selmani (Sylvania, Ohio) to take a 3-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, the Blazers chipped the deficit to one run, 3-2, on an RBI groundout from senior Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.).

Baruch pulled away in the bottom of the sixth behind a five-run inning. The Bearcats plated the first run of the inning on an RBI double from junior Angel Tejada (Dominican Republic), followed by a two-run single from Ulino. Two more runs came around on a base clearing triple from senior Zachary Uher (Freeport, N.Y.), staking Baruch to an 8-2 advantage. Elms added two runs in the seventh as Baruch took the opener 8-4.

Elms junior Tom Weldon (0-1; Springfield, Mass.) took the loss in six innings of work, surrendering eight runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Baruch sophomore Joseph Cali (1-0; Brooklyn, N.Y.) earned the win, allowing four runs, two earned, with three strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Bearcats struck first with an RBI single from sophomore Jasdeep Buttar (Edison, N.J.) to capture the 1-0 lead. Baruch dealt the final blow on a solo home run from Uher in the top of the seventh to secure the 2-0 win.

Junior Andrew Sadowski (0-1; Northampton, Mass.) went the distance for Elms, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of work. Sophomore Matthew Fazio (1-0; Staten Island, N.Y.) earned the complete win for Baruch, limiting the Blazers to two hits with seven strikeouts.

The Blazers fall to 0-2 to open the 2015 campaign, while Baruch improves to 2-4 on the season. Elms returns to the diamond Sunday morning with a doubleheader against Wilmington (Ohio). The Bearcats face Gettysburg College in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

ELMS BASEBALL