The Suffolk University Baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from the Rhode Island College Anchormen. Senior Mike Cunningham (Syosset, N.Y.) hit a go-ahead two run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning as Suffolk won game one, 3-2 before the Rams took the nightcap 9-3.
Game One
Trailing 2-1 in the home half of the sixth inning, Cunningham connected on his third home run of the season to put the Rams ahead for their eighth win in a row. Cunningham finished game one with a pair of runs scored as part of a 2-for-3 game to help lead the Suffolk offense.
Junior Jonathan Richard (North Andover, Mass.) collected his third win of the year in as many start to move to 3-0 on the mound for Suffolk. Richard pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits.
Rhode Island College jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead to start the game in the first inning. Senior Zach Hubbard (Kissimmee, Fla.) led the game with a single up the middle. In the next Anchormen at-bat senior Kevin Carey (Wakefield, R.I.) laid down a perfect down on the third base side for an infield single as Hubbard advanced to an unoccupied third base. Sophomore Dean Grasso (Cranston, R.I.) would knock in the first run of the game as he bounced into a fielder's choice to plate Hubbard as the Anchormen left two stranded to end the first inning.
Suffolk would even the game in the bottom of the second inning as junior Mike Muse (Milton, Mass.) flared a base hit to left with two outs plating Cunningham for Suffolk's first run of the ball game. Cunningham led the inning off with a single and later stole second base before advancing to third on an overthrow.
The Anchormen would take back the lead in their next at-bat as Hubbard once against started the scoring, this time doubling to right. He would come around later in the inning to score on a double off the bat of Grasso.
Junior Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, Mass.) singled to lead off the sixth inning for Suffolk before coming around to score on Cunningham's blast. Suffolk would have a chance to blow the game open later in the inning as they managed to lead the bases with one out but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity leaving them stranded to end the sixth.
Junior Frank Tierney (Hyde Park, Mass.) earned the save as he recorded the final two outs of the game. Tierney picks up his second save of the season for Suffolk as he left the tying run on third base with two outs as he worked out of the jam retiring both hitters he faced.
Game Two
In game two, Suffolk jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first inning as the first six hitters in the lineup all came around to score. Junior Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass.) led the game off with a double off the top of the left field fence that was followed by a walk to junior Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.). Cintolo collected his first of two hits in the night cap as he single to left loading the bases. Cunningham would draw a walk to bring in the first run before back to back doubles by senior Chris Stanley (Placentia, Calif.) and junior J.C. Collette (Amesbury, Mass.) would make it a 5-0 game before the Rams recorded an out. Senior Jhonneris Mendez (Boston, Mass.) would drive in a run later in the inning with a groundout.
In the second inning, Stanley hit a towering 2-run homer to left, his first of the season as Suffolk continued to build on their lead.
Stanley had a monster offensive afternoon for Suffolk as he was 5-for-7 with four RBI and a pair of doubles and a pair of runs scored in the two games combined.
Sophomore Joe Saia (Everett, Mass.) earned the win on the mound for Suffolk as he pitched five innings, allowing three runs while striking out five.
Sophomore Eli Libby (Sudbury, Mass.) escaped a bases loaded jam with no outs in relief of Saia in the sixth to help preserve the win. Libby punched out the final two batters of the game.
The sweep improves Suffolk to 9-1 on the season.
Suffolk is scheduled to play again on Monday afternoon. The game has been switched to be played in Willimantic, CT as Suffolk will travel to take on the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30pm.