The Suffolk University Baseball team swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader over the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. Suffolk won game one 3-2 in walk off fashion as the go ahead run came across with two outs in the bottom of the seventh on a balk. Suffolk would take the nightcap 11-2 as four pitchers combined to allow just five hits as the offense scored early and often.
Game One
Johnson & Wales jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead to start things off in the top half of the first inning. Senior Alex Pezzuto (Hastings, N.Y.) and junior Kory Ferullo (Rochester, N.H.) both drew base on balls to start the game before freshman Carlos Sanabria (Pawtucket, R.I.) extended the inning reaching on an infield error. After a double play force out at home to first, sophomore Mark Kerwin (Pawtucket, R.I) brought in the game's first two runs with a single to center field for the early two run edge.
Suffolk would answer in the bottom half of the first when senior Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, Mass.) picked up his first RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center scoring senior Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.).
Senior Jonathan Richard (North Reading, Mass.) would hold the Wildcats at bay for the remainder of the contest as he improves to a 4-2 mark on the season. Richard allowed just seven singles in his seven innings of work. He would work out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings to give Suffolk the chance to tie.
In the sixth inning Suffolk would even the game up when Cintolo picked up his second RBI of the contest on a ground out to first. Suffolk had a chance to take the lead as senior Mike Muse (Milton, Mass.) hit a two-out single to right but freshman Matt Brenner (Eliot, Me.) was hosed out at the plate trying to score from second on a throw by Wildcats junior rightfielder Rob Bocchetti (East Meadow, N.Y.).
With two outs in the visitor's half of the seventh Pezzuto would keep things going for the Wildcats picking up his second base hit of the day. Pezzuto reached base in three of four plate appearances in game one, with a pair of singles, a walk and a steal. Ferullo would follow him up with one of his two base hits in the contest. Richard would work his way out forcing a groundout to end the threat.
Sophomore Jon Lapolla (Providence, R.I.) led the seventh off with a double to left center for Suffolk. Lapolla was then lifted for freshman pinch runner BJ Neil (Lynnfield, Mass.) A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Rob Marks (Revere, Mass.) would send Neil over to third with one out. Jacobson would come up to bat with two outs after Wildcats sophomore starting pitcher Jake Marchesseault (Wyoming, R.I.) was able to record the second out on one of his five strikeouts in the game. Jacobson would work the count to 3-1 before the decision was made to intentionally walk Jacobson. In coming to his set, Marchesseault broke his hands on the mound, forcing the balk call and bringing Neil in with the game winning run.
Game Two
Suffolk jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the first. Cintolo came around to score the game's first run with two outs on a botched groundball with the bases loaded. Marks then delivered the big blow of the inning when he picked up two RBI on a double over the first base bag. A third run would come around to score on the play as Lapolla legged all the way around from first when the throw from the outfield sailed over the cutoff man.
Marks would drive in two more runs in the second inning as Suffolk scored four more times to build an 8-0 lead.
Cintolo would add a two run double in the third, before junior JC Collette (Amesbury, Mass.) capped off the scoring with an RBI base hit for an 11-0 Suffolk edge.
Junior Frank Tierney (Hyde Park, Mass.) would pitch a scoreless two frames before giving way to freshman Chuck Gibson (Malden, Mass.). Gibson earned the win in relief throwing 2 1/3 innings pitched. He gave way to junior Mike Masulli (Prospect, Conn.) who worked his way out of a jam in the fifth coming in with two runners on. Senior Jhonneris Mendez (Boston, Mass.) pitched the final two innings striking out three.
Sophomore Tom Elkow (Morganville, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in the nightcap for the Wildcats.
Pezzuto was 1-for-3 to finish off the doubleheader with a 3-for-6 day at the plate.
The losses set Johnson & Wales back to a 5-4 mark in GNAC play, and 23-8 overall record.
Cintolo picked up five RBI in the two games combined. Jacobson scored four runs on the day.
Senior Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass.) reached base in four of seven plate appearances as he drew three hit by pitches and a walk in the doubleheader.
The wins improve Suffolk to an 11-1 standing in GNAC conference action and 15-9-1 overall on the season.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they host Brandeis University at Scotts Miracle-Gro Complex at 3:30pm.
Suffolk will take on Babson College on Wednesday and host Eastern Connecticut State University on Thursday afternoon.