CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Suffolk baseball outhit MIT and played errorless baseball, but the Rams could not get on the scoreboard and ultimately fell to the Engineers, 3-0, Friday afternoon at Fran O'Brien Field.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0, MIT 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-10) | MIT (5-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
MIT put one run on the board in the home half of the first inning to put Suffolk in a hole early. The Rams stranded one run in the second and third, respectively, before seeing its first scoring opportunity of the night come in the fourth. Seth Coiley started things off with a single to shallow center. A pop-up and strike out later, Tim Brigham kept the inning alive with a single up the middle and Steven Shamnoski juiced the bags with a single of his own to left field. With the Rams looking to even the playing field Engineer's pitcher Casey Bussone had other things in mind as he sat Trevor Lee down swinging to keep MIT ahead by one.
The Engineers built a two-run edge in the bottom of the fifth after two singles were sandwiched around a punch out and a passed ball put the runners in scoring position. MIT's lead-off hitter Garrett Greenwood dribbled a ball down the first base line to bring in the runner.
Suffolk continued to look to make up ground and get on the scoreboard and had another chance as the blue-and-gold loaded the bases for the second time on the day, this time with just one down. Unfortunately, Shamnoski's one-hop up the middle was easily turned into a double play to keep it a two-run game in the Engineer's favor.
Another double-play ended the top of the seventh and MIT retired the side in the eighth to force Suffolk's comeback to come in the ninth. Prior to the Rams' final go at the plate, the Engineers tacked on another fun in the home half of the eighth to put the visitors in a three-run hole.
The Rams had a chance to make up the ground, but the Engineers relief arm of Jack Murphy retired the side in the top of the ninth to clinch the win in MIT's favor.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Mark Fusco allowed three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, while striking out eight batters in 7.2 innings of action.
- Parker Browne came on in relief and struck out the lone hitter he faced.
- Bussone went a scoreless 6.0 innings with one walk, eight hits and six strikeouts.
- Murphy secured the win and earned the save behind a scoreless 3.0 innings with just one hit and one walk allowed to go along with three Ks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Brady Chant led the way at the dish with three singles in four plate appearances. The senior centerfielder also stole one bag.
- Coiley and Hopkins each picked up a pair of hits with the latter recording one double on the day.
- Brigham and Shamonoski contributed one hit apiece to Suffolk's nine total.
NOTEWORTHY
- Fusco's eight punch outs mark a career-high for the senior.
- Chant ran his hit streak to five straight games and matched a career-high three hits.
- Coiley had his sixth game with multiple hits.
- Hopkins recorded just the third multi-hit outing of his collegiate career with his second straight contest with a double.
- Shamnoski registered his first collegiate hit.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk closes out the week with a two-game series at Western New England, tomorrow, Saturday, March 31. Game one is set to begin at 12 p.m.