Baseball Beats New England College 20-3 in Game 1 to Split Conference Doubleheader

HENNIKER, N.H. - The Elms College Baseball team traveled to New England College for a conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 3 | New England College 20
Records: Blazers 9-15, 3-8 (GNAC) | Pilgrims 7-21, 5-8 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | New England College 14
Records: Blazers 9-16, 3-9 (GNAC) | Pilgrims 8-21, 6-8 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
In the top of the first, first year outfielder Raynel Rodriguez (San Pedro de Marcorís, Dominican Republic) would earn a walk to begin the game, filled by junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.) reaching base on an error committed by the shortstop, and a walk to sophomore outfielder/infielder Liam Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) to load the bases. Then with an 0-1 count, senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a three-run double to center field to take an early lead. Junior pitcher Ryan Ziegler (Uncasville, Conn.) would start the first game for Elms in the conference doubleheader in New Hampshire. In the bottom half of the first inning, Ziegler would strike out the first two batters he faced, both with full counts. In the top of the second inning, senior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) would reach base on an error committed by the third baseman and junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would reach base on a fielder's choice. Then with one runner on base, Rodriguez would hit a two-run home run to right field to extend their lead, 4-0. Unfortunately, New England College would begin the bottom half of the inning with a lead off home run of their own, but Ziegler would end the inning with a looking strikeout. The Blazers would load the bases quickly, with back-to-back walks to sophomore pitcher/infielder Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) and Pond, and a single through the left side by Scanlon-Dean. Then on the first pitch, first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn.) would hit a two-run single through the right side. Busca would follow suit with a sacrifice bunt that would drive in Scanlon-Dean. As the inning would continue, Ciaglo would earn a walk, followed by three-straight one-run singles from Rodriguez, Essley, and first year catcher Eliam Martinez (Dominican Republic). In the third inning, the Elms offense would score six runs. Ziegler would begin the bottom half of the inning with a swinging strikeout, but the Pilgrims would hit another home run, but fortunately the Blazers defense would help record the final two outs of the inning to keep the score 11-2. In the top of the fourth inning, the Elms offense would add four more runs after Busca would reach base on a fielder's choice that would drive in Pond, Faber would score after a walk to Essley, a single from Martinez to bring Busca across the plate, and Ciaglo would score on a wild pitch, to bring the score to 15-2. NEC would get runners on base in the bottom half of the fourth inning, but the Blazers would record the three outs to move in the next inning. In the top of the fifth inning, Scanlon-Dean would hit a double down the left field line, followed by Faber reaching base on a fielding error committed by the right fielder. Then Busca would hit a one-run single through the right side to stretch their lead further. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a ground ball would be hit to Faber would toss the ball to Ciaglo at second base and he would pass the ball to Pond to complete the 4-6-3 double play. B.Diaz would add a double in the sixth inning, but no runs would be scored by Elms. In the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore/pitcher Alex Baeta (Bellingham, Mass.) would relieve Ziegler. In the inning, Baeta would strike out the first batter he faced, the Pilgrims would add a run on a wild pitch, but Baeta would get out of the inning by striking out the last batter looking. In the seventh inning, Busca would hit a one-run double to right field and would be followed by a three-run home run to left field by Essley. Then in the bottom of the seventh inning, New England College would look to create a rally late in the game, but Baeta would strikeout two more batters to help the Blazers win the opening game 20-3.

Game 2
In the top of the first inning, the Elms offense would not be able to score and in the second half of the inning, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Sal Ortiz (Springfield, Mass.) would take the ball in the second game for the Blazers, recording a swinging strikeout in the inning. Unfortunately, the Pilgrims would score eight runs in the inning. In the top of the second inning, B.Diaz would hit his second double of the afternoon down the left field line, followed by a hit by pitch to Scanlon-Dean, and a single to left center field by Faber, but Elms would once again be held scoreless. In the bottom of the second, senior pitcher Colby Arnold (Waterford, Conn.) would relieve Ortiz, where he would strikeout the first batter he faced and shut the NEC offense down in order. In the top of the third inning, B.Diaz would hit his third double to left field that would drive in Martinez for their first run of the game. Then in the bottom half of the third and fourth innings, the Pilgrims would score three runs to extend their lead to ten runs. In the top of the fifth inning, Rodriguez would earn a walk and B.Diaz would hit a single through the left side. Rodriguez would score moments later when a single through the left side would be hit by Scanlon-Dean. In the bottom of the fifth, Arnold would strikeout a batter looking, but New England College would score three more runs to their lead. In the sixth inning, junior catcher Nicky Calvanese (Longmeadow, Mass.) would hit a single to center field and Ciaglo would earn a walk, but the Blazers would not a run in the inning. Ciaglo would relieve Arnold in the bottom of the sixth, where he would strike out two batters, including the final batter of the inning. In the seventh inning, the Elms offense would look to rally back to extend the game further. Unfortunately the Pilgrims would record the three outs before the Blazers would score a run to defeat Elms 14-2 and split the conference doubleheader.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Rodriguez: two hits, with a home run, four runs scored, two runs batted-in, and two walks.

• Essley: two hits, with a home run, two runs scored, five runs batted-in, and a walk.

• Martinez: two hits, a run scored, two runs batted-in, and three walks.

• B.Diaz: four hits, with three doubles, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Pond: a hit, three runs scored, and two walks, and would participate in a double play in the field.

• Scanlon-Dean: five hits, with two doubles, three runs scored, and four runs batted-in.

• Faber: three hits, three runs scored, two runs batted-in, and a walk at the plate, and would participate in a double play in the field.

• Busca: two hits, with a double, two runs scored, and three runs batted-in.

• Ciaglo: three runs scored and a walk at the plate, would participate in a double play in the field, and would pitch an inning with two strikeouts.

• Calvanese: a hit.

• Ziegler: would pitch five innings, with four strikeouts, and would earn the win in Game 1.

• Baeta: would pitch two innings, with four strikeouts.

• Arnold: would pitch four innings, with two strikeouts.

• Ortiz: would pitch an inning, with a strikeout.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will travel to Springfield, Mass. for a non-conference game on Wednesday, April 15th at 3:30 pm at Western New England University.

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