NEW LONDON, Conn. – Senior Cole Lalli (Coventry, Conn.) finished with three hits, including two home runs, one double, five RBI, and four runs scored, helping power the Mitchell College baseball team past the University of Hartford 15-6 in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field.
Lalli's first home run was a solo shot to left field which came in the bottom of the second inning, and accounted for the first run of the day for the Mariners. The senior added another solo blast to left field in the bottom of the sixth, and in-between laced a bases clearing double down the left field line. The two homers were the most in a single game for Lalli in his collegiate career, while the five runs driven in fell one short of his season high six RBI against SUNY Brockport.
Senior Jack Hayes (New Milford, Conn.) added his first home run of the season for the Mariners, who scored 10 or more runs for the sixth time this spring.
The Hawks got the scoring started in the top of the first inning, plating a pair of runs on an error and an RBI single off the bat of freshman Tyler Shannon. Lalli's fourth home run of the season made it 2-1 in the second, before the Mariners erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to break the game open, highlighted by Lalli's three run double.
Hartford got one run back in the top of the fifth, but the Mariners scored three more times over the next two innings, before Jack Hayes belted a solo homer to left-center field to cap the scoring for the afternoon in the bottom of the eighth.
Freshman Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) recorded two hits, marking the ninth time this season he has turned in a multiple hit performance. Senior Angel Galindez (Carolina, PR) went 1-5 with two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Freshman Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) and senior Michael Gajda (New Britain, Conn.) each doubled for Mitchell in the win, while Jack Hayes finished went 1-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Additionally, Tyler Powell (Middletown, Conn.), Savier Paige (Wethersfield, Conn.), and Adam Vartanian (Cumberland, R.I.) recorded one hit apiece.
Freshman Joshua Scamman (Rochester, N.H.) started the game for the Mariners and allowed two runs (none earned) across two innings of work, striking out three. Sophomore John Novak (Colchester, Conn.) came on in relief of Scamman and picked up his first win of the season by tossing two innings of no-hit ball. Five more Mitchell pitchers combined to account for the final five innings.
Jake Santiago drove in three runs on the day for the Hawks, while leadoff hitter Jack Ciccone went 3-5 and scored a pair of runs.
Freshman AJ Formato took the loss, his first of the season, after surrendering three runs and five hits in three innings.
The Mariners (18-8, 7-0 GNAC) will return to conference play with a doubleheader at the University of Saint Joseph on Saturday, April 13th. The Hawks (4-16-1, 0-2 CCC) next play on Saturday, April 13th, when they travel to Gordon College for a conference twin bill.