Junior Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, Mass.) broke the Suffolk University Baseball program record for doubles on Wednesday afternoon but the Rams saw their 10 game win streak snapped as the Salem State University Vikings pounded out 16 hits in a 14-5 rout.
Cintolo finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, his 41st and 42nd career two baggers as he surpasses Nick Martinho '08, who held the previous mark of 40.
All nine players in the Vikings' lineup recorded a hit on the day, while three players finished the day with three hits each as Salem State improves to a 4-8 mark on the year earning their first win up north of the season.
Things got off to a good start for Suffolk as they were able to plate four runs in the first inning. Back to back walks to juniors Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass.) and Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.) set the table for Cintolo. The junior righty would connect on his first double of the day, putting his name atop the all-time Suffolk category with a line drive down the right field line to the corner of the outfield as he plated both runners for the early edge. Junior Frank Tierney (Hyde Park, Mass.) capped the inning off with a ground rule double to right knocking in a pair of runs for Suffolk as they were able to build a 4-0 lead before the Vikings would come to hit.
The Vikings evened the game with four of their own in the bottom of the second as Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, Mass.) cut the deficit to 4-2 with a two-out bases loaded single and was followed by a Steve Buitkus (Reading, Mass) double that that tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the second. Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, Mass.) led off the third with a walk to chase Suffolk starter Dan Shields (Haverhill, Mass.). Mike Masulli (Prospect, Conn.) replaced Shields and after issuing a two-out walk, was greeted with a two-run double by Mike Lamothe (Beverly, Mass). Beliveau scored Lamothe with a single to give the Vikings a 7-4 lead after three.
Shields went two innings and allowed five runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. McElroy led off the fifth with a double, and after a single by Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA), scored on a fielder's choice to increase Salem State's lead to 8-4. Eli Libby (Sudbury, Mass.) replaced Masulli, and gave up a run- scoring triple to Richard Fecteau (Newbury, Mass.) and an RBI single to Ethan Trowt (Beverly, Mass.) that put the Vikings in charge at 10-4.
Masulli lasted two and one third innings and allowed four runs on four hits with two walks. Suffolk added a run in the seventh when Mike Muse (Milton, Mass.) plated Cintolo, who led off the inning with a ground rule double.
Cal Carroll (Methuen, Mass.) relieved Libby in the bottom of the seventh after Libby went one and two thirds and allowed three hits and one run. Trowt's RBI single in the seventh pushed the lead back to 11-5, scoring Fecteau, who singled and stole two bases. Shawn Hull (Gloucester, Mass.) closed out the game for Salem State and pitched two innings of two-hit ball with two strikeouts.
TJ Fearon (Cochester, Conn.) pitched the eighth for the Rams, and allowed three runs on three hits, including a run scoring single to McElroy, and an RBI double by Burgess that made the final score 14-5.
McElroy went 3-for-4 with a double, while Fecteau also added three hits, including a triple and three runs scored. Trowt was three-for-three with three RBI's
Suffolk stranded 12 runners on base in the contest as they put together 10 hits on the day.
Muse was 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Cintolo scored twice and drove in a pair in a 2-for-5 effort. Senior Chris Stanley (Placentia, Calif.) added two hits in five at-bats.
Senior Ryan Sharp (Townsend, Mass.) pitched six and one third innings of one-run ball for the Vikings to earn the win in relief. Sophomore Shaun Hull (Gloucester, Mass.) pitched the final two innings striking out a pair without allowing a run.
Suffolk will be back in action on Thursday afternoon in their home opener at Adams Field in Quincy as they host Bridgewater State University at 3:30pm.
(Portions of this story courtesy of Salem State University Sports Informaton)