Baseball Loses on the Road at Colby-Sawyer

NEW LONDON, N.H. - The Elms College Baseball team traveled to Colby-Sawyer College for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 5 | Colby-Sawyer College 9
Records: Blazers 11-18, 5-10 (GNAC) | Chargers 17-17, 10-7 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 4 | Colby-Sawyer College 14
Records: Blazers 11-19, 5-11 (GNAC) | Chargers 18-17, 11-7 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
In the top of the first inning, first year outfielder Raynel Rodriguez (San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) would hit a lead off double down the left field line, but the Elms offense would not be able to score in the inning. Junior pitcher Luke Guyer (East Granby, Conn.) would take the mound for the Blazers in the first game of the conference doubleheader. In the bottom half of the inning, Colby-Sawyer would score a run to take the early lead. In the second inning, senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a single to right field and Guyer would strikeout a batter swinging, but the Chargers would add four runs in the inning to extend their lead to 5-0. In the top of the third inning, the Elms offense would see three singles from junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.), Rodriguez, and first year catcher Eliam Martinez (Dominican Republic). Then with the bases loaded, the Chargers pitcher tried to pick off Martinez at first base, but the throw would get by the first baseman, which would advance the runners and Ciaglo would score the opening run for the Blazers. The Elms defense would keep their conference foes from scoring in the inning. The fourth inning would see first year infielder Matt West (Stamford, Conn.) and senior outfielder Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) would both hit singles, along with first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn.) would reach base on a fielder's choice and Guyer would add a looking strikeout. Unfortunately, CSC would score a run in the bottom half of the inning. Then in the top of the fifth inning, the Blazers would begin to rally, when junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.) would reach base on an error committed by the center fielder and would advance to second base on the same play. Essley would then score from second after Martinez hit a single to center field. Moments later, sophomore infielder/pitcher Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) would be hit by a pitch and then Faber would hit a single to left field to drive in Martinez to bring the score to 6-3. In the bottom of the fifth inning, senior infielder/pitcher Chase Prestia (Newington, Conn.) would relieve Guyer on the hill, where he would strikeout a batter swinging and keep the Chargers scoreless in the inning. In the top of the sixth inning, Rodriguez would earn a walk, then with a 2-1 count, Martinez would hit a two-run home run to left field to bring Elms to within a run of tying the game, 6-5. Unfortunately, Colby-Sawyer would extend their lead by three runs in the bottom half of the inning, but the Blazers defense would make some great plays, including Martinez catching a runner stealing second base and Faber making a solo-double play. The Elms offense would enter the seventh inning looking to create another late rally, with Scanlon-Dean hitting a lead off single past the shortstop and Busca earning a walk. However, the Chargers defense would prevent the Blazers from scoring in the inning and defeat them 9-5 in the opening game of the conference doubleheader.

Game 2
The Elms offense would begin the game with singles to the right side of the field from first year infielder Aidan Daugherty (Southwick, Mass.) and B.Diaz, but they would be unable to score in the inning. Junior pitcher Scott Cooper (Middletown, R.I.) would take the ball for the Blazers in the second game of the afternoon, where he would strikeout a batter looking and the Elms defense would help keep the game scoreless in the opening inning. Essley would lead off the second inning by reaching base on an error committed by the first baseman and would steal second base. Unfortunately, the Blazers would once again not be able to score in the inning. Then in the bottom half of the second, Cooper would strikeout back-to-back batters swinging to end the inning. In the third inning, Martinez would hit a single to center field, but the CSC offense would take the lead after scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. In the fourth inning, Faber and Busca would hit back-to-back singles, but the two conference teams would both be held scoreless. Prestia would begin and end the bottom of the fifth inning with a swinging strikeout, but the Chargers would score three runs in the inning. Then in the top of the sixth inning, B.Diaz would reach base on an error committed by the center fielder and Essley would hit a double to left center field. Then B.Diaz would score after Faber would ground out to the second baseman. Busca would then drive in Essley with a single past the second baseman. Moments later, junior catcher Nicky Calvanese (Longmeadow, Mass.) would reach base on an error by the right fielder and would advance to third base which would drive in Busca. Calvanese would then score when Rodriguez would hit a single to bring Elms to within three runs of tying the lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore catcher/pitcher Alex Baeta (Bellingham, Mass.) would relieve Cooper on the mound, but Colby-Sawyer would score two more runs in the inning. Both teams would be unable to score in the seventh inning. Then in the eighth inning, Faber would earn a walk and would take the ball from Baeta in the bottom half of the inning. Unfortunately, the Chargers would score five runs to clinch the second game of the day, 14-4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

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

• Rodriguez: three hits, with a double, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Busca: three hits, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Essley: a hit, with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

• Scanlon-Dean: two hits and a stolen base.

• Faber: two hits, two runs batted-in, and a walk at the plate, would field a double play, and would pitch ⅔ of an inning.

• Ciaglo: a hit and a run scored.

• B.Diaz: a hit and a run scored.

• Calvanese: a run scored and a run batted-in.

• Daugherty: a hit.

• West: a hit.

• Cooper: would pitch five innings, with five strikeouts.

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

• Prestia: would pitch two innings, with a strikeout.

• Baeta: would pitch two innings.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will travel to Hamden, Conn. for a conference doubleheader at Albertus Magnus College on Saturday, April 25th at 11 am & 2 pm.

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