AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (April 19, 2016) – Freshman lefthander Sean Halligan (North Branford, Conn.) struck out eight batters and allowed just three hits over seven shutout innings, leading the Western New England University baseball team to an 8-1 victory over Union College this evening in non-conference action at Shuttleworth Park.
Western New England improves to 21-5 (7-1 CCC) with the win, its 11th in the last 12 games, while Union drops to 14-7 (9-3 LL) with the loss.
Halligan, who also walked three batters in his 89-pitch outing, earns his first collegiate victory with the impressive performance. He is Western New England's second freshman southpaw to post a dominant effort in less than a week, after Bob Hamel (Southwick, Mass.) registered a complete game (7-inning) one-hitter in Saturday's 2-1 win at Roger Williams.
Halligan got plenty of support from the offense, which piled up ten hits and scored in four different innings, including a pair of three-run frames. Senior shortstop Kevin Marciano (Pepperell, Mass.) led the way, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Marciano was also a threat on the base paths, swiping three bags without getting caught as the Golden Bears established a new season-high for the second consecutive day, stealing eight bases today after tallying six in Monday's 6-3 win over Keene State.
Senior Eduardo Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) was also a key offensive contributor, going 2-for-4 with three RBI out of the No. 3 spot in the batting order, while freshman Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) singled twice and stole a pair of bases, and senior Doug Milne (Nesconset, N.Y.) reached base three times with two walks and a triple.
Colmenares staked the Golden Bears to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first, and Milne doubled their advantage with a sacrifice fly in the third.
Western New England pulled away late in the game, scoring three runs in the sixth and three more in the eighth before Union finally broke through with a single run in the bottom of the ninth.
The Golden Bears benefited from a pair of Union errors in the sixth inning, putting three runs on the board with just one hit. Marciano drove in the first run of the frame, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while Colmenares plated another run on a fielder's choice before coming in to score on a wild pitch.
Two more Union miscues in the eighth allowed Western New England to increase its lead to 8-0, as Marciano recorded an RBI double and stole third before scoring on Colmenares' single up the middle.
The Dutchmen scored their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the ninth, when freshman Tim Curtis (Manhasset, N.Y.) recorded a two-out RBI single off of Western New England freshman Jeremy Morris (Montrose, N.Y.).
The Golden Bears will be off tomorrow before heading to Norton, Mass. on Thursday to take on Wheaton in a showdown of top-five regionally ranked programs. Union travels to Chicopee, Mass. tomorrow to face Elms.