Southern Maine rallies past Endicott, 8-6
April 24, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - The University of Southern Maine rallied to score eight runs in the final two innings, as the visiting Huskies erased a 6-2 deficit to defeat Endicott College in a non-conference baseball game on Thursday afternoon in Beverly, Massachusetts. The win improves USM to 22-9 overall, while Endicott slips to 18-16.
The Gulls got the game started with a quick run in the home half of the first, as senior catcher Dan Gomez (East Longmeadow, Mass.) grounded out to second to allow Aaron Santos (Cambridge, Mass.) to score from first for the 1-0 lead. The Gulls would tack-on five more runs in the second inning, including a two-run homerun from freshman Luis Uribe (Boston, Mass.) to give Endicott a 6-0 lead. Uribe's homerun was his third in as many days, upping his season total to six.
The visitors were able to get a run back in the top of the third as Ryan Pike (Saco, Maine) cranked a solo-shot to make the score 6-1. Starter Erik Fields (Swampscott, Mass.) was able to get himself out of the inning with no further damage, getting Chris Burleson (Portland, Maine) to fly out to center.
Jordan Berthiaume (Berlin, Conn.) led the fifth off with a double to left to put a runner in scoring position for the Huskies. Berthiaume would eventually score on a ground out to second by Greg Holmes (West Newbury, Mass.) to bring Southern Maine within four.
The Huskies broke out in the top of the eighth as Pike reached on an Endicott error to begin the frame. Following three-straight walks, junior Anthony D'Alfonso hit an absolute bomb to centerfield, driving the ball off the siding of Endicott's Post Center for what appeared to be a grand slam. Senior Eddie Skeffington (Everett, Mass.), who reached first on a free-pass, missed home plate while rounding the bases, allowing Endicott to appeal the misstep to record the out. D'Alfonso was credited with three RBIs on his long ball. The Huskies would score once more before the end of the inning on an RBI single to right from Andrew Stacy (Denmark, Maine) to give USM a 7-6 lead.
Southern Maine would add an insurance run to complete the comeback in the top of the ninth as Chris Burleson connected on a leadoff homer to give the Huskies a two-run cushion. That lead would prove to be enough, as USM rallied for the 8-6 win.
D'Alfonso hit 2-for-5 with three RBIs in the win. Berthiaume also had a pair of hits to go along with two runs scored.
Endicott was led by Luis Uribe's two hits and two RBIs in the losing effort. Aaron Santos connected for two hits and scored twice for the Blue and Green. Mike Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) had a solid day at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 with a run scored. Erik Fields was charged with the loss to even his record to 3-3. Fields gave up seven runs - six earned - walking four and striking out two.
Endicott returns to action on Friday as the Gulls host Brandeis University for a non-conference game at 3:30 p.m. on North Field. Southern Maine will entertain Keene State in a conference double-header on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m.