No. 20 Endicott Downs Salem State, 7-2

SALEM, Mass. – Sophomore catcher Brendan McDonald (Quincy, Mass.) knocked in four runs to lead No. 20 nationally ranked Endicott past Salem State, 7-2, in non-conference action on Thursday evening.

Zachary Sultar (South Windsor, Conn.) was credited with the win (1-0) out of the pen on five innings pitched, four hits, one run (unearned), one walk, and a strikeout. Meanwhile, Kyle Wollman (East Berlin, Conn.) picked up his first career save as the junior righty locked down the last three innings of the contest (1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K).

Salem State starter Dylan McCormick (South Kingstown, R.I.) received the loss on 6 2/3 innings, eight hits, three runs (two earned), no walks, and a game-high three strikeouts (tied).

Trailing 1-0 after two complete innings, the Gulls scored twice in the third and led the rest of the way for their eighth straight win dating back to March 30 against Wesleyan (Conn.).

McDonald got Endicott going in the third with an RBI single to left center, while the Gulls second run of the frame came across via a two-out error.

McDonald then tacked onto the lead in the fifth with a run-producing double to right center to make it 3-1 and followed that up with a two-run triple to right center in the ninth for a 5-1 advantage. Another error allowed a run to score in the ninth (6-1) before Jacob Thibault (Methuen, Mass.) capped the Gulls' scoring in the contest with an RBI ground-rule double to left center that plated Matthew Robida (Chester, Conn.) from second base.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott is 9-1 on the road this season.
• The Gulls have outscored their opponents 48-23 during their eight-game winning streak.
• McDonald, Brad Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.), Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.), and Thibault all compiled multi-hit games in the win.
• McDonald's three hits and four RBI are both career-highs.

FOR THE FOES

• RJ Warnock (North Reading, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with one run scored and three stolen bases.
• Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) knocked in one of Salem State's two runs in the ninth.
• Warnock generated the Vikings' only other run in the second with a leadoff singled up the middle, and back-to-back stolen bases before coming home on a throwing error.

WHAT'S NEXT

No. 20 Endicott (16-3) hosts Gordon College in a conference doubleheader on Friday, April 13 at 2/4:30 PM. Salem State (13-10) travels to Westfield State on Saturday, April 14 for a twinbill at 1/3 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)