February 29, 2020

Husson Splits Earliest Season Opener in Program History with Salem State, 0-8, 11-7

Batting

Husson
2B: David LeBlanc
3B: David LeBlanc
HR: Evan Holzworth
Salem State
2B: none
3B: Shawn Rebello
HR: none
full stats

NORTHBORUGH, Mass. - Husson University (1-1) kicked off the 2020 season by splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Salem State University (1-2) in Husson's earliest season opener in program history by one day on Saturday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. The Vikings dealt the Eagles an 8-0 setback in the opener and Husson salvaged the split with an 11-7 triumph in the nightcap.

With the victory in the night cap, the Eagles provided first-year skipper Chris Morris '10, '12 with the first collegiate victory of his career.

GAME ONE - SALEM STATE 8 HUSSON 0

HOW IT HAPPPENED:

The Vikings got on the board right away when Madoc Fisher hit a solo homer in the first inning. He followed up his first at bat with a two-run double to cap off a huge fourth inning for Salem State as the Vikings tacked on another seven runs bringing their lead to 8-0 over the Eagles.

Husson had some trouble getting their bats going against Jimmy Burton on the mound as they left seven Eagles on base, while holding the Vikings scoreless over the final 2.2 innings.

ON THE MOUND:

  • Jesse Colford (0-1) opened up the 2020 season on the mound for the Eagles, throwing 3.1 innings before Blake Slicer entered the game as relief with one out in the fourth.
  • Jacob Gregoire pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
  • Burton (1-0) went six innings for Salem State, striking out four batters while only walking one.
  • Dylan McCormick closed out the final inning for the Vikings.

OFF THE BAT - HUSSON:

OFF THE BAT - SALEM STATE:

  • Fisher was a perfect 3-3 on the day with three RBI, a double, a homerun, and two runs scored.
  • Shawn Rebello went 2-3, while adding a run scored and a walk.
  • Ryan Collins tallied a 1-3 day with a double and a run scored.

GAME TWO - HUSSON 11 SALEM STATE 7

HOW IT HAPPPENED:

The Vikings got out to a quick start, scoring two runs to open the game. Husson scored their first run in the second inning, when Austin Baron scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan Holzworth. In the top of the third, David LeBlanc tripled home Pomeroy and later scored on a one-out single by Baron to give Husson their first lead of the game in the fifth. An RBI single by Zach Piroh in the bottom half of the fifth, allowed Tim Catalano to across home plate tying the game at three.

With the game tied at 3-3, the Eagles broke open the game in the top of the sixth with eight runs off three hits and one Viking miscue. Ryan Hoogterp led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second when Matt Graciano was issued a walk. Both players then advanced one base on a groundout by Pomeroy and later scored on a two-run RBI single by Kobe Rogerson. After LeBlanc popped out, Ewanik was issued the Eagles' third base-on-balls of the inning and both Rogerson and Ewanik advanced a base on Ethan Stoddard's single. With the bases load, Baron was plunked by a Matthew Enos pitch forcing in Ewanik with the Eagles' third run of the inning. The very next batter Enos faced, Holzworth only needed one swing of the bat to clear the bases for his first career homerun extending the Husson lead to 10-3. Hoogterp tallied the Eagles' final run of the inning when he reached base on his second walk of the inning, stole second and then advanced all the way home on a throwing error by the Viking catcher.

Salem State tacked on a single run in the sixth off a Kyle O'Connor RBI groundout and three in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Jake Boucher and Brett Molea and a sacrifice fly by Catalano.

ON THE MOUND:

  • Cam Graham (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after allowing seven runs (six earned) off 13 hits and four walks and nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched.
  • The Viking starter Jack Sefrino did not factor into the decision after yielding three runs (one earned) off five hits, while walking two and striking out five in 4.1 innings.
  • Joshua Bell took the loss and falls 0-1 after giving up two runs on one hit in 0.2 innings of relief.
  • Enos, Dylan McCormick and John John Mondello combined to allow six runs off four hits and four walks in just 2.0 innings.

OFF THE BAT - HUSSON:

  • LeBlanc was 4-5 with one run scored, a triple, a double, and an RBI.
  • Rogerson went 2-4 with one run scored, and two RBI.
  • Holzworth had a 1-2 day with one run scored, a homerun, a career-high five RBI, and a walk.
  • Baron finished the game with a 1-2 day with two stolen bases, two runs scored and two RBI.

OFF THE BAT - SALEM STATE:

  • O'Connor went 2-3 with a run scored, two walks, a stolen base and an RBI.
  • Rebello was 2-4 with a triple, two runs score and an RBI.
  • Piroh had a 2-4 day with two RBI.
  • Boucher was 2-3 with two runs scored and a walk.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the split, the all-time series with Salem State University remains tied at 12-12-1. The two-game set marked the first time since the 2008 season that the Eagles have faced the Vikings.

UP NEXT!

The Eagles open up a nine-game slate in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational next Saturday with a doubleheader versus Rhode Island College starting at 3:00 p.m.