NORTON, Mass. – The Suffolk baseball team suffered a 12-4 setback to the hands of Wheaton Wednesday night at Sidell Satdium.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Wheaton 12
RECORDS: Suffolk (17-10-1) | Wheaton (19-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wheaton scored early and often and kept Suffolk's offense quiet over the opening innings to hold a 9-0 advantage after five complete frames.
The Rams eliminated the shutout on a sac fly from Rich Giandrea in the top of the sixth. The sophomore right fielder brought in Blase Cormier. Cormier reached on a single, moved over on Will Hopkins' base hit and took third on a Lyons' error.
An inning later, the blue-and-gold made up more ground. Extra-base hits played a favor in Suffolk's scoring as Cormier collected a pair of RBI on a double down the right field line. The sophomore first baseman brought in Rich Gilbride, who walked, and Ben Isaak, who wore a pitch. Two batters later, Brigham plated Cormier on a single up the middle to turn it into a 9-4 non-conference clash.
The Lyons responded to the Rams in the home half of the inning with a pair of runs to stretch the distance to 11-4.
After retiring the side in the top of the eighth, Wheaton added one more run in the bottom of the frame for the 12-4 margin, which remained after Suffolk went down in order in the ninth.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- In his first collegiate start, Michael Muscarella suffered the setback after giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits and one walk.
- Six arms came out of the pen for the Rams with Tyler Zel lworking the most time, 2.2 innings. The senior let up three runs on three hits and three walks with three punchouts.
- CJ Barrett and Ryan Garton were each reliever for Suffolk. The each threw 1.0 scoreless inning. Barrett sat down two hitters in his outing, while Garton walked one batter.
- Joe Bongiovanni picked up the win after dealing a one-run, six-hit, one strikeout effort in 6.0 innings of action.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Six batters were responsible for the Rams' 10 hits with four hitters producing two apiece: Gilbride, Cormier, Hopkins and Brigham.
- Cormier led the way at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored and was responsible for Suffolk's only extra-base hit, a double.
- Gilbride and Isaak each scored one run.
- Brigham and Giandrea brought in one run.
- Trevor Lee and Shane Lake both added one hit.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk is back in conference play this weekend when it ships down to Johnson & Wales Saturday, April 13. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.