NEW LONDON, Conn. – Seven different players registered multi-hit games for the Mitchell College baseball team on Sunday afternoon, as the Mariners pounded out 20 hits, including three home runs, during a 21-5 rout of Dean College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game at Alumni Field.
With the win, the Mariners improve to 23-8 overall, and remain undefeated at 10-0 in conference play.
The freshman duo of Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) and Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) powered the Mitchell offensive attack, as Ficocelli went 4-6 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored, while Terni Jr. turned in a 3-4 day at the plate, which featured his fouth home run of the season, along with a game-high four RBI and three runs scored.
Robbie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) made his return to action for the first time since suffering an injury on March 8th and the senior delivered, lacing a pinch-hit two run double in his first at bat, before belting his second homer of the season during a four-run seventh inning.
Senior Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) added his second home run of the season for the Mariners, while Gajda, Angel Galindez (Carolina, PR), Cole Lalli (Coventry, Conn.), and Jack Hayes (New Milford, Conn.) collected two hits apiece. Both of the hits for Hayes were doubles, while Lalli and freshman Tyler Powell (Middletown, Conn.) recorded doubles in the win.
Nicholas Strojny (Woonsocket, R.I.) kept the Dean bats at bay to improve to 3-0 on the spring. The junior right handed pitcher surrendered just two earned runs across six innings, walking just one and striking out four.
Gavin Goss, Nick Amendolara, and Rylan Secovich had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs, while Owen Critchley drove in a team-high two runs. Connor Nooney was tagged with the loss after giving up the go ahead run on an RBI single by Terni Jr. in the bottom half of the third inning.
The Mariners (23-8, 10-0 GNAC) will look to remain undefeated in conference play when they host Johnson & Wales University on Monday, April 22nd, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 pm. The Bulldogs (8-21, 1-12 GNAC) return to action on Monday, April 22nd, with a road GNAC doubleheader against Elms College.