EAST BOSTON – Suffolk baseball looked to lift the lid on its 2021 campaign in the win column, and had a chance to do so in walk-off fashion, but fell just short to Lasell, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Lasell 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Lasell (1-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk punched onto the scoreboard in the home half of the second. With one dead, Marc Birbiglia wore a pitch and moved into scoring position thanks to Ben Isaak's single through the left side. Shane Lake brought Birbiglia in on a single up the middle to give the Rams a one-run edge.
The Rams doubled up the distance in their next trip to the dish. An error let Zack Aresty reach and Tim Brighampushed the runner to third over with a routine ground out to second. Aresty tagged up on Rich GIlbride's fly out to center to give the blue-and-gold a 2-0 lead.
Lasell attempted to make up ground in the top of the fourth and had a few chances to do so. Wyatt Shioven, who led off with a double to right center, turned his wheels on when Matt Motyka singled to left field. Shioven rounded third, and made the sprint into home, however the Rams defense hosed the runner down. Lake made the tag the plate to keep the Lasers off the board.
Later in that same inning the Lasers juiced the bags with two outs. Once again, the blue-and-gold's defense backed Steve Rossi up this time with Isaak fielding a one-hopper to third to secure the final out of the frame and keep the Lasell scoreless through 3.5.
Suffolk was kept scoreless for the first time since the opening inning and Lasell's game of catch-up came in the top of the fifth. With one out and a runner on first Harrison Silva fired a rocket over the left center fence to even the score at 2-all.
The scoring did not stop there for the Lasers. A costly Rams error allowed the Lasers to score on a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch with an RBI single from Sean Doris to cap off the scoring frenzy that put Suffolk in a 5-2 hole.
This time it was the Rams turn get back into the swing of things and a deep triple from Tim Brigham with one out looked to do just that. The Rams' designated hitter was stranded on third, however, as the next two Suffolk swingers went down to keep the deficit at three runs.
Jake Washock came in to take care of business on the hill and keep the Rams within striking distance. The fresh arm held the Lasers scoreless
Lasell made a change on the hill as well as Brian Cipolla took over for Darek Lallo. Birbiglia tested Cipolla from the get-go and drew a base on balls to led things off. Two outs later, Rich Giandrea figured Cipolla out too. The right fielder barreled the ball to the right center fence. The Lasers outfielders got tangled up in each other when trying to make the play. In the meantime, Anthony Del Prete waved Giandrea around the bags. Birbiglia scored and Giandrea was right behind to seal the inside the park homer, and trim the gap to one, 5-4.
In the top of the seventh, Suffolk cycled through CJ Barrett and Shawn Nosky on the bump to hold the score still.
An edge of your seat seventh followed. With one out Tim Brigham worked a marathon at bat that featured a handful of foul tip offs. The DH finally found his pitch and sent the ball bouncing over the right field fence to find himself on second. Smart base running during Rich Gilbride's ground out to short put Brigham on third with two out and the winning run at the plate.
With the game on the line, Blase Cormier showed his composure and filled the count. The first baseman sat back expecting a ball to be called, but the umpire sealed Suffolk's setback fate, with a ring up looking.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Rossi suffered the setback after giving up five runs, two earned, on eight hits and five walks with four punchouts in 5.0 innings.
- Washock worked 1.0 scoreless innings with a pair of Ks and walks, respectively.
- Barrett and Nosky both split the top of the seventh.
- Lallo secured the decision. The Lasers started allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk with one strikeout.
- Motyka picked up the save behind a one-hit, one-strikeout, final frame.
- Cipolla threw 1.0 inning for the Lasers in which he gave up two runs on hit and one walk.
STATISICALLY SPEAKING
- Lake finished 2-for-3 on the day with one RBI.
- Giandrea brought in two runs on his lone hit, an inside the park jack.
- Brigham chipped in two hits, both for extra bases, with one double and one triple to his credit.
- Aresty scored one run for Suffolk.
- Gilbride registered one RBI and a sac fly, while Cormier contributed one hit and one stolen base.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk started its season in New England for the second straight season.
- The Rams competed at East Boston Memorial Park for the first time since May 2, 2019.
- Giandrea notched his first collegiate homer.
- Washock and Nosky each made their pitching debuts.
POST-GAME PIC
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SUFFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams wrap up the twinbill with the Lasers this afternoon.
