Gulls Split Wacky Doubleheader
April 21, 2007
Box Score - Game One - Box Score - Game Two
NEWPORT, RI - The Endicott College baseball team split a wacky doubleheader against Salve Regina University in Newport, RI on Saturday. The Gulls fell in game one, 4-3, and then took game two by the score of 19-16. Endicott is now 11-13 overall and 7-4 in the CCC.
Crafty pitching from Richard Fuller (Danbury, CT) in Game one allowed the Seahawks to manage the split. Fuller escaped a bases-loaded first-inning jam unscathed, while his mates loaded the bases in their half and scored twice. Matt Finlayson (Higganum, CT) came home with the second run of the frame after tagging from third on a short fly to right field grabbed by Endicott second baseman Steve Vidmosko (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep).
After Endicott plated a pair in the third inning, the game remained tied until LF Joseph Leafe (Manchester, NH) lifted his first homerun of the season in the bottom of the fifth. Fuller was unable to wiggle out of a jam caused by a pair of outfield errors in the sixth. Davin Sirpenski (Voluntown, CT) relieved Fuller, but allowed the tying run to score.
Sirpenski singled in the sixth to put RF Justin Collett (Portland, CT), who reached on a fielder's choice, in scoring position. Collett came around with the go-ahead score on C Rob Peruzzotti's (Mystic, CT) second RBI of the game. Sirpenski allowed two baserunners in the final frame before nailing down his second win of the season, 4-3.
Game 2 was a slugfest as each team pounded out 20-plus hits with the Gulls outscoring the Seahawks, 19-16. Salve Regina staked All-New England lefty starter William Riggieri (Worcester, MA) to a 5-0 lead, but he and two other Seahawks could not retire any Gulls in the top of the third as Endicott belted three homeruns - two from LF Joe Orlando (Gloucester, MA/Gloucester - including a pair of grand slams while crossing the plate 15 times. Orlando would finish with seven RBI in the win.
Leafe - four doubles, four RBI in Game 2 - led off the Seahawk fourth with a two-bagger and scored on a Brendan Haire (Waterford, CT) single. Sirpenski brought home Finalyson later in the frame.
Pinch hitter B.J. Pivonka (Tolland, CT) delivered a run-scoring single in the fifth to start a five-run outburst for Salve Regina (17-7; 6-2 CCC). Haire drove in one with a sacrifice fly while Collett collected a pair of RBI with a double. Sirpenski brought the home team within three (15-12) with a two-out single.
That would be the closest Salve Regina would get as both teams scored four times in the final two innings. Endicott's Game 1 starter, Erik Fields (Swampscott, MA/Swmpscott), earned his first save of the season as he retired Haire on an infield grounder and Finlayson on a fly ball to left. Fields also drove in four runs as the designated hitter.
Endicott returns to action tomorrow afternoon as the Gulls play host to the Amcats of Anna Maria College in a CCC doubleheader on North Field. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled for a 12:00 Noon first pitch.