HAMPTON, Va. – A collegiate first for junior outfielder Luke Tyree separated the Saints from Tufts University on Saturday afternoon at the Apprentice School Tournament, as his grand slam in the top of the second put the Marymount baseball team ahead for the remainder of the game en route to a 10-4 victory.
After falling behind in the bottom of the first, 1-0, following a RBI double by the Jumbos, Tyree ignited the Marymount offense with a four-run bomb in the top of the second to bring around himself, seniors Kaden Darrow and Javier Herrera, and junior Cal Berman.
The scoring in the second wasn't over though, as freshman designated hitter Jake Mellor put a ball into center field to score junior Conner Hall, who doubled to left field after Tyree's homer.
With a 5-1 lead, senior starting pitcher Collin Bazemore had a little more breathing room on the mound. However, Tufts brought around two runs on one hit to cut the deficit to two.
A scoreless third inning on both sides brought more action in the fourth and fifth, as the Saints answered with a run in each off a RBI single by Hall and a sacrifice fly by Berman to score junior Austin Sizemore to push the lead back to four, 7-3.
Bazemore's day came to a close after four innings, striking out four, as freshman Ryan Bergenhagen stepped on in relief for the fifth and sixth inning. Giving up just one hit, a home run in the bottom of the fifth, he struck out two to eventually earn his second win on the mound this season.
The home run by the Jumbos in the fifth was the final run brought across, while the Saints added three more in the top of the sixth. A wild pitch scored Darrow, and a single by Mellor scored Tyree and an error on the play brought around Hall for the 10th and final run of the game.
Sophomore Matthew Schneider and junior Ryan Scheufele worked the final three innings on the mound to seal up the victory.
The base running was beneficial for the Saints for the day, stealing a total of five bags led by Herrera's two. Darrow, Berman and junior Michael Wade.
The Saints are lined up for two nine-inning games in the tournament on Sunday, taking on host Apprentice School at 1 p.m., and following with another matchup against the Jumbos at 4 p.m.