Gulls Sweep Opening Doubleheader of CCC Homestand

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BEVERLY, Mass. – Outstanding pitching and timely run scoring propelled Endicott to two victories over local rival Gordon College on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) baseball action at North Field.

The Gulls used a complete game pitched by senior Benjamin Petrides (Belchertown, Mass.) to win the first game 4-2, then erupted for an eight-run second inning and took the nightcap by an 8-4 score.

Endicott gets over the .500 mark for the season, improving to 14-13 (7-3 CCC), while Gordon slips to 9-16 (3-5 CCC).

Game 1

Petrides pitched all seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He issued just two walks and struck out six batters while improving to 4-1 on the season.

First baseman Colin Sitarz (W. Hartford, Conn.) had three hits in the victory for Endicott, missing hitting for the cycle by a home run. Sitarz also drove in two runs for the Gulls.

The Fighting Scots took the lead in the second when shortstop Stephen Crawford (Haddon Heights, N.J.) doubled home designated hitter James Burrell (Decatur, Ga.).

Sitarz began his afternoon in the second, tripling to right center and then coming in to score an unearned run to tie the game. He then doubled home shortstop E.J. Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in the second inning as the Gulls took the lead, which they would not relinquish the rest of the afternoon.

After a walk to designated hitter Eric Lemke (Southington, Conn.) and a single by center fielder Tad Gold (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.), Sitarz helped the Gulls add two more runs in the fifth. He smacked a single up the middle to drive in Lemke, and Gold came across the plate after taking advantage of an error by Gordon center fielder Kris Camelio (Lexington, Mass.).

Gold also had two hits for Endicott, who rapped out seven base knocks in the game.

Sophomore Ryan Reinsel fell to 0-5 for Gordon after pitching three and two-thirds of an inning. Reinsel allowed just one earned run but allowed five hits and issued three walks while collecting just one strikeout.

Gordon third baseman Brian Harrington (Shoreham, N.Y.) had two hits in the loss, including a double.

Game 2

The Gulls scored all eight of their runs in the second inning and held the Gordon offense at bay until the top of the 7^th.

Gold had two hits, including a bases-loaded triple in that second inning which featured two errors by the Scots, making all but two of the Gull’s runs unearned.

With two outs and Martinez on first, right fielder Michael Russo (Natick, Mass.) singled and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, Mass.). The freshman second baseman delivered a two-run single to plate both of them and put Endicott on the board.

Third baseman Daniel Mello (Peabody, Mass.) added an RBI single for Endicott and Lemke was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Gold, who unleashed a rocket down the left field line and motored into third for his sixth triple of the year.

Freshman Jacob Syed (Niskayuna, N.Y.), who fell to 1-2 after taking the loss, continued to struggle with his control, hitting Sitarz in the same inning before Martinez delivered another blow with a two-run single.

It looked as though the Gulls and starter Steven Carter (Brunswick, Maine) were going to emerge with the shutout victory, but Gordon’s bats woke up in the top of the 7th. Harrington started by singling up the middle and then first baseman Eric Wolak (Trumbull, Conn.) uncorked a deep homerun to left field.

Carter, who improved to 2-1, got two outs in the inning but he allowed a single to Burrell and then walked Cole Pooler (Orange, Calif.) and was pulled in favor of Kevin Dupras (Belchertwon, Mass.).

Dupras allowed a two-run triple to the first batter he faced, left fielder Dillon Coleman (Cromwell, Conn.) to make the score 8-4, but was able to get right fielder Ben Davidson (Sterling, Mass.) to strike out swinging to secure the victory for Endicott.

Endicott outhit the Scots 13-6 in game two, and Gordon made two errors. Mello, Gold, Martinez, Russo and Oringer all had multiple hit games for the Gulls, and eight different batters crossed the plate in their big eighth inning.

Both teams will continue CCC play when they are next in action. The Gulls will continue their home stand tomorrow with a set of games against the visiting Wentworth Leopards. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.

Gordon will make the short trip back to Wenham in time to face Nichols for a Memorial Day doubleheader starting at 2:00 PM.