The Suffolk University Baseball team defeated Williams College on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Williamstown, 8-2 in non-conference action.
Sophomore Jon Lapolla (Providence, R.I.) hit a grand slam in the seventh inning as Suffolk put together an 11-hit attack to top the Ephs.
Williams jumped out first scoring a run in the home half of the second inning when junior Kelso Stevens (Charlotte, N.C.) brought in the game's first run with an RBI groundout. Freshman Jack Roberts (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) led the inning off drawing a hit by pitch before sophomore Phil McGovern (Nutley, N.J.) reached safely on a sacrifice bunt that was unplayable. Freshman Nathan Michalski (San Diego, Calif.) would then advance both runners with the Ephs' second sacrifice bunt of the inning to set the table for Stevens who picked up the RBI in the following at bat.
Suffolk would tack on a pair in their following at bat. Sophomore Rob Marks (Revere, Mass.) would lead the inning off reaching on an infield error. Following Marks' at bat the game would be delayed for nearly half an hour as the steady rain made the field unplayable. When action kicked back up junior Justin Knight (Hackettstown, N.J.) would bloop a single to right to score Marks to even the game. After back to back walks to load the bases with one out, senior Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, Mass.) would put Suffolk on top when he hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Knight for the 2-1 lead.
Williams would even the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Michalski hit a double off the left field fence to plate senior Marco Hernandez (Forth Worth, Tx.) who led the inning off with a base hit to left.
Suffolk would tack on a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Senior Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.) would lead the fifth off with a base hit. Freshman Matt Brenner (Eliot, Me.) would follow him with a single to right sending Jacobson from first to third. Cintolo would hit into a 6-4-3 double play that would bring home the go ahead run.
In the sixth Marks singled to left with one out before coming around to score as a double by senior Mike Muse (Milton, Mass.) in the right field corner sent him all the way around with the insurance run.
Suffolk would put the game away in the seventh taking advantage of a pair of Williams' errors. Cintolo would reach with one out in the inning when his ground ball to short would be misplayed. Junior JC Collette (Amesbury, Mass.) would then pick up his second hit of the afternoon with a single to left. Senior Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass.) would then reach on a fielder's choice as the feed in the middle for the force out was dropped loading the bases for Lapolla. Lapolla's grand slam was his team leading fourth home run of the season, and second grand slam of the season by a Suffolk hitter. Lapolla would clear the 400 foot sign in center with ease to empty the bases making it an 8-2 game.
Senior Jonathan Richard (North Reading, Mass.) improved to 6-3 on the season on the mound for Suffolk. Richard picked up his third complete game of the season going all seven and allowing two runs on five hits while walking none with one strikeout.
Collette, Marks and Knight each had two hits on the day for Suffolk who improve to a 21-13-1 overall record on the season.
The loss ends the 2014 season for Williams College as they fall to a 13-16 overall record.
Both teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday but game two was cancelled after two innings due to the inclement weather.
Suffolk will continue their season on Monday evening as they host NEWMAC champion MIT at Adams Field at 7:00pm as part of senior day.