Yaphank, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Baseball team dropped its second straight game on Saturday following a 7-1 loss to Eastern Connecticut. The Dolphins' offense struggled against the Warriors, recording just five hits with freshman Tyler Pope (Massapequa, N.Y.) leading the team with two.
Eastern Connecticut opened an early lead with an unearned run in the second inning. With two outs and no one on Joe Cousineau reached on a bunt base hit. Later in the inning he stole second and crossed after throwing errors committed by John McManus (Bayside, N.Y.) and James Labartino (Holbrook, N.Y.).
The Warriors opened the game up in their half of the third inning when they plated four runs on four hits. Robert Perry and Danny O'Connell delivered the big blows with each hitting two run singles. Eastern Connecticut would add insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings to secure the win.
Mount Saint Vincent scored its only run of the game in the third inning after it loaded the bases with one out. Labartino singled to left to drive in the run, but the Dolphins had a runner cut down at the plate to close the door on the rally.
Eastern Connecticut recorded 11 base hits on the day with O'Connell and Shane Kingsley each collecting three safeties. Kingsley went 3-for-3 in the game, while O'Connell went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. Drew Accomando scored a pair of runs for the Warriors and Tyler Turgeon joined O'Connell and Perry with two RBI.
Tyler Pope went 2-for-4 on the day and Fernando Suriel (Yonkers, N.Y.) scored the only run. Mike Pope (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Suriel recorded the other hits for the Dolphins.
Matt Calandrillo (Cold Spring, N.Y.) took the loss for the Dolphins in his first start of the season. He allowed six runs on seven hits, while walking four batters in 3.1 innings. Jim Dimon earned the victory after allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings. Dimon also fanned six hitters in the outing.
In the Mount's two consecutive losses they have scored just two runs on seven hits. The Dolphins have only recorded one extra base hit over that stretch. Opponents have totaled 24 runs and 31 hits over that same stretch against the Mount pitching staff.
The loss on Saturday drops Mount Saint Vincent to 1-3 overall on the season. The Dolphins will close the weekend on Sunday morning when they tussle with Southern Maine. First pitch at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, N.Y. is set for 10:00 a.m.