NASHAU, N.H. – The Daniel Webster baseball team saw its five-game win streak halted as Mitchell College used timely hitting and solid pitching to post a 9-4 and 3-1 doubleheader sweep in a matchup of NECC contenders Saturday afternoon at Harvey Woods Field.
The wins propelled the Mariners (11-5-1, 6-2 NECC) back into sole possession of first place in the NECC, pushing them a game and a half ahead of the Eagles (12-6, 5-4 NECC). The third game of the weekend series is set for Sunday in New London, Conn. beginning at 1:00 p.m.
In the opener, both teams committed four errors apiece, but DWC's would prove to be more costly. Two errors that came in the sixth inning allowed Mitchell to break a 4-4 tie and plate five runs to take the 9-4 win.
Senoior Jeff Perillo led Mitchell with two hits including a double and knocked in two runs, while junior Felix Colarte added a two-run double as part of the sixth inning rally. Sophomore Osmer Collado added two hits including a RBI triple in the fourth.
Elliot Kilgore, Tyler Bonin and Rich Lizotte all knocked in single runs for the Eagles, but DWC was handcuffed by the Mitchell rotation, scraping for just three hits.
Mitchell held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth before DWC took advantage of two Mariner fielding errors and pushed across three unearned runs to tie it.
Freshman Jon Blair earned the win (1-1 overall) with an inning and a third of middle relief of starter Paul Martinez. Eagle Kory Kiro took his first loss of the season (4-1 overall), allowing eight runs (five earned) on five hits, striking out three and walking three.
In the nightcap, Mitchell junior John Apostolo bested Eagle rookie starter Korey LeLievre and rang up 10 strikeouts. Apostolo allowed one earned run while scattering eight hits over seven innings for the complete game win to improve to 5-1 overall. LeLievre (1-3 overall) allowed just two earned runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out three and walking one.
Apostolo helped his own cause by going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored a run. Colarte added two hits including a double in the second that scored Apostolo.
Darrik Marstaller led DWC with two hits.
Mitchell forged ahead in the second as Colarte led off with a single, advanced to third on a Gus Maclao single, and scored on senior Carlos Hughes's double play ball.
After Colarte's double made it 2-0 in the third, DWC got on the board in the fourth behind three straight singles from Lizotte, Kilgore and Zack Cantor's RBI single that plated Lizotte.
But the Mariners got some breathing room in the top of the seventh as junior Angel Chacon walked to lead off, moved to second on a Collado sacrifice, and scored on a Drew Rossi single.