Sophomore left fielder Erik Bergstrom’s (Enfield, Conn.) eighth inning RBI single, dropped the visiting Suffolk University Rams 5-4 in non-conference action at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The win improves the Owls to 18-3-1 on the season, while the loss drops the Rams to 19-13.
Suffolk hopped onto the scoreboard in the top of the first, on a two-out RBI single from junior right-fielder Andrew Babb (Hopkinton, Mass.).
The Rams added to their lead in the top of the third, on Babb’s second two-out RBI single in as many at-bats, to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
KSC crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth on Bergstrom’s sacrifice-fly to centerfield scoring senior third-baseman Keith Patnode (Keene, N.H.).
In the top of the sixth, Suffolk made it a 3-1 ballgame on a Jhonneris Mendez (Roslindale, Mass.) solo home-run.
The Owls answered back by plating three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take their first lead of the game. Senior shortstop Jesse Cahill (Cranston, R.I.) doubled down the left field line scoring Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.). Junior right fielder Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) did the rest of the damage, with a two RBI single up the middle scoring Cahill and junior catcher Tyler Diprato (Suffield, Conn.) for the 4-3 lead.
The Rams battled back in the top half of the eighth, as Babb would come up with his third RBI single of the day to even the game at 4-4.
KSC’s eighth inning rally was started when sophomore first-baseman Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) singled through the left side. Bates, who later stole second base, scored on Bergstrom’s seeing-eye single through the right side for the 5-4 victory.
Doyon and Bergstrom each had multiple RBI’s on the day, with Cahill driving in the other KSC run. Diprato continues to reach base since being moved into the leadoff spot, with two hits and a walk in four plate appearances on the game.
Babb led the Rams, going 3-for-4, with three of the team’s four RBI’s. Senior catcher Bobby Barrett (Milton, Mass.) was the only other Suffolk hitter with multiple hits on the day.
On the hill for the Owls, Jeff Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) gave KSC six strong innings, allowing just three runs on eight hits and striking out three. Reliever Ed Lacourse (Manchester, N.H.) picked up his first victory in 2010 pitching two innings of relief allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Cory Vogt (Suffield, Conn.) earned his third save of the season by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Junior reliever Alex Torres (Framingham, Mass.) took the loss allowing six hits and four runs in the final three innings for Suffolk.
KSC returns to the diamond Tuesday, with a non-conference game against Husson at 3 p.m. Suffolk heads into the Great Northeast Athletic Conference on Thursday.
(Story courtest of Keene State Sports Information Dept.)