BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The Suffolk baseball team had 10-plus runs for the fourth time in as many games as the Rams captured its fourth straight victory, a 12-4 win over Massachusetts Maritime at Hendy Field Thursday afternoon.
Suffolk, who improved to 19-5 with its fourth consecutive win, snapped Massachusetts Maritime's (12-9) six-game win streak and handed the Buccaneers their ninth loss on the year.
Two ground outs led off the game for Suffolk, before Jon Lapolla stretched his hit streak to 11 with a single to left field. The senior, who has a team-high 10 snipes this season, was picked off at first to end the inning early.
Similar to the Rams, the Buccaneers lead off, Connor Kennedy, grounded out. Jake Petruzzelli, who singled to center field, was moved over thanks to Walsh's single and both runners advanced on an error by Suffolk's second baseman Jake Frasca. During Logan Sullo's at bat, Tim Conroy threw a wild pitch, which let Petruzzli come in for the first run of the day. With Walsh on third, Sullo singled to right center for an RBI and a 2-0 Mass. Maritime edge.
The Rams responded quickly with one run in the second. Drew Carter led off with a walk and was moved over on a ground out by Frasca. Carter advanced to third on an error by Sullo and was brought in on a Luke Ronchi single to right field.
Trailing by just one, Suffolk quickly righted the score in the next inning. Two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases as Lapolla came up to the dish. The senior singled to left field and brought in Sean Cameron and Brady Chant to give the Rams a lead they would not relinquish. Suffolk's clean-up hitter, Carter, scored Coiley on a ground out and Ronchi made it a 5-2 game with a single to third, bringing in Lapolla.
Mass. Maritime was kept off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning and made a change on its mound in the top of the fourth with Everett Walsh taking over the reigns. The new arm was no match for the Rams, however, as two more runs came home. Zach Grogan reached on an error by third baseman Nathan Anderson and stole second and third after Matt Brenner flew out to left field. Cameron connected, but the Buccaneers chose to go for the out at home, tagging Grogan at the plate and letting Cameron take first. Chant pushed the junior along to second with a single and the pair each stole third and second, respectively. With runners in scoring position and two outs, Coiley rattled off a two RBI single to left center, stretching Suffolk's lead to 7-2.
The Buccaneers would once capitalize on a Rams mistake in the bottom of the fourth. Downs came home on a Lapolla error as the score moved to 7-3.
Suffolk went down in order in the fifth and the hosts added its fourth and finale run in the bottom half of the inning. Sances led off with a single and was pushed over by a Keane's sacrifice. Conroy struck out Downs then walked Anderson to give Fusaro runners on first and second. Fusaro notched an RBI single, the Buccaneers first and only earned run of the afternoon to cut the Rams' lead to 7-4.
The Rams did not let the Buccaneers get any closer as they would go on to score in the three final innings with two runs in both the seventh and eight, respectively, and one in the ninth for the final 12-4 score.
Frasca brought in both runs in the seventh with a two RBI double, his 10th double of the season. In the eighth, Cameron took home on a wild pitch and Chant scored on a sac fly by Coiley. Carter earned the final run of the non-conference contest thanks to a ground out RBI by Ronchi.
Seven different Rams combined for 12 hits with Cameron (2-for-3), Carter (2-for-5), Coiley (2-for-3), Lapolla (2-for-5) and Ronchi (2-for-5) each contributing two. Coiley and Ronchi both had three RBIs to their credit. Cameron and Chant, meanwhile, each scored three runs. Overall, Suffolk stole eight bases successfully (nine tries) the most since matching that number in a 12-4 triumph at Albertus Magnus April 6, 2014.
Conroy earned his third win on the bump, moving to 3-0 on the year, with the sophomore tossing seven innings, giving up four runs on 13 hits and striking out five. Mark Fusco and Cal Carroll each put in an inning of work.
Justin Nichols suffered the setback in just 3.0 innings of action as he let in five runs on five hits and walked two. Walsh saw the bulk of the game (5.0 innings), gave up six runs on identical hits and fanned two, while Trevor Brown tossed the final inning and gave up one run and one hit. Downs led the Buccaneers at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and scored one run.
Suffolk returns to conference action this weekend as it entertains Rivier Saturday, April 16, before visiting Norwich Sunday, April 17.