NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team split the first two games of its weekend series against Daniel Webster College on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Eagles (10-6 overall, 5-2 NECC) pounded out 12 hits en route to a 7-3 win in the opener, led by a 2-for-3 effort at the plate by Kyle Brigham. The Mariners (11-9 overall, 7-1 NECC) then bounced back for a come-from-behind 3-2 victory in the nightcap to support a strong pitching performance from freshman Tyler Shamas.
Daniel Webster will host Mitchell for the series finale on Sunday, March 7 at noon.
Game 1 – Daniel Webster 7, Mitchell 3
Mitchell led 1-0 after getting an RBI double from junior Marc Dorsi in the first inning that scored sophomore Drew Doyle. The Mariners then extended the lead to 2-0 in the second inning when freshman Jon Padilla drove in sophomore Rafael Garcia with a fielder's choice.
Daniel Webster's bats finally woke up in the fifth and plated five runs in the frame. Brigham delivered the go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded triple to make it 3-2. Rich Lizotte and Erick Bourdeau also came through with RBI singles in the rally to increase the lead to 5-2.
Dorsi picked up his second RBI of the game in the bottom of the fifth as the Mariners cut the deficit to two. However, the Eagles scored two insurance runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Bourdeau drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left, and Devin DeCarteret followed with an RBI single through the right side.
Brigham also had a double to go along with his triple and drove in three runs in the contest. Bourdeau also had a pair of hits to go with two RBI.
Daniel Webster starter Greg Dubela went the distance to improve to 2-0 on the season. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out three in 7.0 innings of work.
Mitchell starter Al Jordan Johnson dropped to 2-3 on the year. He lasted 4.2 innings and yielded five runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking four.
Game 2 – Mitchell 3, Daniel Webster 2
Mitchell rallied for a three-run sixth inning to come away with the win in the nightcap. Freshman Neftali Arroyo doubled in the first run and later tied the game when he scored from third on a double to left by classmate Nova Crespo. Padilla then delivered the go-ahead run with a single to right-center that scored pinch runner Lucas Mariani.
Daniel Webster put the tying run on base with two outs in the seventh but couldn't move the runner into scoring position. Shamas worked all 7.0 innings and allowed two runs on eight hits to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the second inning behind back-to-back RBI singles by DeCarteret and Josh Chasse. Daniel Webster starter Zack Hurley held the lead for all 5.0 innings he pitched before turning the ball over to Sean Hannon at the start of the sixth. Hannon recorded only one out and took the loss, dropping to 1-2 on the season.