Endicott salvages split with Anna Maria

April 20, 2008

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

PAXTON, Mass. - Anna Maria freshman pitcher James McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) tossed a complete game shutout in game one, as the Amcats defeated the Gulls, 1-0, in the opening game of the two team's TCCC double-header on Sunday. Endicott responded by taking game two, 8-1, to salvage the conference split.

McNamara surrendered just four hits and struck out five in game one on Sunday afternoon. The freshman southpaw was steady in the zone, as he did not walk a single batter on the day. J.K. Vaughn (Simsbury, Conn.) provided the only offense of the game by driving in McNamara in the bottom of the sixth. The win improves McNamara 5-4 overall, while sophomore Nick Kelley (Malden, Mass.) takes the tough-luck loss to fall to 1-3. Kelley also pitched a strong game, as he struck out six and allowed six hits.

In game two, Anna Maria carried a 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth; however the Endicott bats came alive in the last two innings to snag the win. In the top of the sixth, Adam Labbe (Litchfield, Maine) connected on an RBI single to tie the game at 1-all. Tom Warner (Contoocook, N.H.) would give the Gulls the lead on a sacrifice fly to right, followed by a two RBI double from Aaron Santos (Cambridge, Mass.). Endicott would tack-on four more runs in the seventh to take the game, 8-1.

Aaron Santos and Todd Strong each ended the game with a pair of runs driven in. Tom Warner had a team-high two hits in the win. Michael Drinkwater (Hamilton, Mass.) improved to 1-1 as he threw a complete game five hitter. Drinkwater gave up just the one run while striking out six for the Gulls.

Endicott is now 16-14 overall and 10-8 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. Anna Maria moved to 10-20 and 5-13 after the split. The Gulls return to action on Tuesday afternoon as they host Bridgewater State College in a non-conference match-up on North Field.