MANSFIELD, Conn. -- No. 2 nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University scored six runs in the first inning on three hits, a walk, hit batter and two errors and went on to a 10-0, 7 inning Little East Conference baseball win over Keene State College Tuesday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
Senior All-America leftfielder John Mesagno (Tappan, NY) hit a solo home run in the second and senior DH Jack Rich (Meriden) had a leadoff home run in the third to pace an 11-hit attack for Eastern (23-2, 10-0 LEC) in its 11th straight win and seventh home win in eight games. Rich also had an RBI single in the first inning to move with two of his 98th career hit.
Sophomore righty Nolan Lincoln (Londonderry, NH) pitched the first four innings for his second win in two decisions and combined on the team's third shutout with righty Jack Wallace (Winthrop, MA). Lincoln scattered three singles while fanning one and walking one. Wallace allowed two hits and one walk with five strikeouts and allowed only one ball out of the infield.
With one out in the first inning, seven straight batters reached safely. Mesagno drove in the first run with a single, a double steal made it 2-0, and after a dropped ball in the outfield, Rich drove in the third run with a single, an infield throwing error made it 5-0 and No. 9 hitter Jason Claiborn (Prospect) closed out the scoring with an infield ground ball.
Mesagno, Rich and Claiborn all had two hits and drove in two runs, with Mesagno and Rich also scoring twice. Mesagno and Rich extended their hitting streaks to eight while Mesagno reached safely for the 43rd consecutive game dating back to last year, seven behind the program record.
Rich and Broadhurst have reached safely in 11 straight games.
Eastern and Massachusetts Boston (7-0) are both unbeaten in the conference, with Rhode Island College (7-1) right behind. The Warriors host Rhode Island Saturday in a doubleheader and hosts Massachusetts Boston in a doubleheader May 6 on the final day of the regular season.
Keene is 6-19, 2-6 in the conference after its fourth straight loss and with its 16th loss in 18 road contests.
Eastern hosts Manhattanville College Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.