WASHINGTON, D.C. (Friday, February 23, 2024) - Sophomore Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) belted four singles and drove in three runs as the #13/19 Salve Regina University baseball team opened 2024 with a 6-0 win against host Catholic University at Talbot Field in the first of six contests in the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational. Sophomores Sean Mulligan (Verona, N.J.) and Kyle Carozza (Fairfield, Conn.) combined for the shutout while striking out 10 Cardinals in the nine innings on the mound.
Senior Michael Breen (Auburn, Mass.) delivered the first run of the season with a two-out single in the top of the second inning. Salve Regina added three more in the frame with O'Rourke's two-run single up the middle followed by pre-season All-American Christian Homa (Fairfield, Conn.) bringing Brandon Grover (Ashland, Mass.) across the plate. Seniors Tyler Petrosino (Beverly, Mass.) and Gianfranco Messina (Cranston, R.I.) produced a run when they smacked doubles in the sixth inning. The final run featured O'Rourke's fourth basehit of the day (his birthday!) and scored Grover.
Mulligan (W, 1-0) earned the win with six innings of work as the starter and Carozza (S, 1) earned the save with three innings of shutout relief.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 6, Catholic 0
Records: Salve Regina (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC), Catholic (0-1, 0-0 LANDMARK)
All-Time Series: Salve Regina avenges a doubleheader sweep versus Catholic in last year's season-opening series at Talbot Field. Today's win also gives the Seahawks season-opening victories in six of the last seven years.
SUMMARY
- T2 - Graduate student Matt D'Amato pulled a single down the right field line, stole second after a strikeout, and moved to third on a ground out. Senior Michael Breen delivered the first run of the season with a two-out single up the middle. Breen advanced to second on a wild pitch before the bases were loaded with a walk to Brady Smolinski and a hit-by-pitch for Brandon Grover. Evan O'Rourke drove in Breen and Smolinski with a single up the middle and pre-season All-American Christian Homa knocked in the fourth run of the frame with his basehit up the middle. | Seahawks 4, Cardinals 0
- T6 - Senior Tyler Petrosino led off with a double down the right field line and came home on classmate Gianfranco Messina's one-out double to left field. | Seahawks 5, Cardinals 0
- T9 - Senior Brandon Grover opened the inning with a base on balls and stole second. Evan O'Rourke banged his fourth hit of the game and plated Grover. | Seahawks 6, Cardinals 0
NOTEWORTHY
- Sophomore righty Sean Mulligan (W, 1-0) started on the mound and went 6.0 innings allowing just two hits. The second-year Seahawk also struck out seven Cardinals. Mulligan induced eight ground ball outs.
- Sophomore righty reliever Kyle Carozza (S, 1) pitched the final three innings to earn the save while striking out three.
- Evan O'Rourke and Christian Homa enjoyed multi-hit performances, combining for seven singles.
- Tyler Petrosino and Gianfranco Messina both went for extra bases, each smacking a double in the sixth inning.
- Salve Regina posted its fourth shutout in a season-opener since 2018 (6-0 versus Framingham State on March 4, 2018; 13-0 versus Fitchburg State on March 1, 2020; 7-0 versus Johnson & Wales on March 5, 2022; 6-0 versus Catholic University on February 23, 2024).
- Seahawk pitching got leadoff outs in eight of nine innings.
QUOTING COACH CIRELLA
"Mully was terrific and made big pitches all game. Offense did a good job in spurts and we played a clean game on defense." -- Seahawk head coach Eric Cirella '05
WHAT'S NEXT?
Salve Regina has a noon first pitch against Stockton University on Saturday, February 24, at Talbot Field. The Seahawks wrap up their three-game season-opening series against Western New England University on Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational.