Winter Haven, FL - Suffolk won their third game in a row as they defeated Salem State College by a score of 10-5. Suffolk took advantage of five errors committed by the Vikings and banged out a season-high 14 hits as a team and swiped eight bases. Senior Reid Jackson (Burlington, MA) battled out of early trouble and pitched 6 2/3 innings for his first win of the season, and sophomore Jon Handy (South Burlington, VT) pitched the final 2 1/3 to help preserve the victory for the Rams.
Suffolk jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Junior Rory Gentile (Gloucester, MA) got the game started with a single. With the bases loaded and one out, senior Keith Carter's (Newburyport, MA) hit into a fielder's choice to knock in the game's first run. Junior Bobby Barrett (Milton, MA) then took home on a double steal for Suffolk's second run. Senior Mike Kenneally (Georgetown, MA) then singled home Carter to make it 3-0.
Salem State quickly answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Salem State singled four times, highlighted by sophomore Evan Valcourt's (Salsbury, NH) two-run single with two outs. The Vikings then made it 4-3 in the second when sophomore Ryan Kane (Nahant, MA) drove in Troy Ingime (Malden, MA) with a single.
Suffolk then took control of the game scoring six times through the middle innings, including a 3-run seventh inning. The Rams finished the game with a total of eight stolen bases. Gentile and sophomore Nick Travelyn (Manchester, MA) each stole a pair of bases while Carter, Gentile, Kenneally, Travelyn and junior Marc Doyle (Whitman, MA) each finished the game with two hits a piece.
Senior John McCue (Waltham, MA) had three hits for the Vikings, and freshman Chris Cocci (Wakefield R.I.) and senior Ken Luongo (Wilmington, MA) each added a pair of singles. Sophomore Jeff Borges (Westport, MA) started the game on the mound for Salem State, going 5 innings allowing four earned runs, allowing seven hits.
Jackson allowed three earned runs over his 6 2/3 innings, striking out nine Vikings' hitters. With Salem State threatening in the bottom of the 7th, Jackson gave way to the Rams' bullpen. With runners on first and third with two outs, Handy picked off Salem State's John Deangelo to end the threat.
Handy started the game as Suffolk's DH and doubled in the 4th and also scored a run. While in relief he went 2 1/3 innings pitched on the mound without allowing a run. Sophomore Mark Addesa (Revere, MA) also had an RBI for Suffolk.
Salem State plays again tomorrow as they have a double header schedule with Western Connecticut State at 9:00 am. Suffolk will be taking on Westfield State at 3:00 pm at Chain O' Lakes Park at 3:00 pm.
Suffolk 10, Salem State 5 (Mar 19, 2009 at Winter Haven, FL)
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Suffolk............. 300 112 300 - 10 14 2 (5-2)
Salem State......... 310 000 100 - 5 9 5 (0-1)
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Pitchers: Suffolk - Reid Jackson; Jon Handy(7). Salem State - Jeff Borges; Andrew Blair(6);
Frank Sorrenti(7).
Win-Reid Jackson(1-1) Loss-Jeff Borges(0-1) T-3:00 A-125