Winter Haven, Fla - Sophomore Mark Addesa (Revere, MA) singled to drive in the game winning run in the bottom of the 9th as Suffolk won their fourth straight game, 9-8 over Westfield State. Junior Bobby Barrett (Milton, MA) went 4-4 with 5 RBI, including a 3-run home run to lead the Rams to victory.
Senior Keith Carter (Newburyport, MA) got the ninth inning started with a leadoff walk followed by a pinch-hit walk by senior Nick Chioffi (South Burlington, VT). With one out and two on, Addesa then hit a sharp ground ball down the left field line to plate Carter and give the Rams the dramatic victory in a seesaw battle.
Westfield State jumped out quick in the top of the first with a run when junior Ben Campbell (Easthampton, MA) drove in Kevin Lyons (Braintree, MA) with a single. Barrett answered with his home run in the bottom half of the inning to give Suffolk a 3-1 edge.
The Owls took the lead in the 3rd when sophomore Pete Hogan (Weymouth, MA) hit a three run home run. Westfield State tacked on one more run in the fifth. Junior Jeff Fields (Pittsfield, MA) led the inning off with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Suffolk starter Alex Torres (Framingham, MA). Sophomore Pete Grillo (Shrewsbury, MA) then drove in Fields with a single to make it 5-3.
Suffolk exploded for five runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a 2-run double by Barrett. Sophomore Nick Travelyn (Manchester, NH) got the rally going by hitting a deep fly ball off of the left field fence for a double. Junior Rory Gentile (Gloucester, MA) then drew a walk and Barrett laced a double into the right center gap for to drive in both base runners. Junior Marc Doyle (Whitman, MA) followed up Barrett's double with a double of his own driving in another Rams' run, and sophomore Jon Handy (South Burlington, VT) singled up the middle driving in two more runs.
Westfield State would not go quietly scoring three runs in the eighth off of Suffolk closer Steve Healey (Norwood, MA). Westfield plated one run off an RBI single by junior Jeff Fields. The Owls would then take advantage of Suffolk miscue on an errant throw in the middle infield on a double play that plated the game tying run.
Healey (1-0) picked up the win for the Rams throwing the final two innings. Torres started for Suffolk going six innings. Torres battled for most of the day scattering 10 hits over six innings, before giving way to freshman Tim Belanger (Raynham, MA) who made his first career appearance.
Junior Jesse Vermeersch (Marlboro, MA) started the game for Westfield State, as the Owls used five pitchers in the game. Senior Cagney Turner (Carleton Place, Ont.) took the loss. Ben Campbell was 4-5, and Jeff Fields was 3-3 who had 13 hits as a team on the day.
Senior Paul Vittozzi (North Reading, MA) and Jon Handy each had a pair of hits for the Rams, and Keith Carter drew four walks on the day.
Suffolk plays again tomorrow when they take on the 2008 National Champion Trinity College (Ct.) at 1:00 pm at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Winter Haven, Fla.
Suffolk 9, Westfield St. 8 (Mar 20, 2009 at Winter Haven, FL)
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Westfield St........ 103 010 030 - 8 13 1 (0-1)
Suffolk............. 300 000 501 - 9 11 1 (6-2)
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Pitchers: Westfield St. - Jesse Vermeersch; Jacob Rand(7); Phil Towne(7); Cagney Turner(8);
Andrew Poliferno(9). Suffolk - Alex Torres; Tim Belanger(7); Steve Healey(8).
Win-Steve Healey(1-0) Loss-Cagney Turner(0-1) T-3:00 A-100
HR WESBB - Pete Hogan.
HR SUF - Bobby Barrett.
Belanger faced 1 batter in the 8th.
C. Turner faced 1 batter in the 9th.