BOSTON – Despite outing the Gulls, Suffolk baseball could not capitalize on base runners and fell to Endicott, 3-2, in the opener of a CCC doubleheader at East Boston Memorial Park Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Endicott 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-6, 2-3 CCC) | Endicott (8-5, 6-3 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk saw a chance in the opening inning with a pair of base runners as Christian Seariac and Rich Gilbride each single to get the game going. The Gulls turned a 463 double play and Michael Kozlowski fanned Tim Brigham to keep the hosts off the board.
The Rams punch one run on an inning later though. Zack Aresty, who reached on a fielder's choice moved into scoring position behind Gino Desimone's ground out to second. Two hitters later Joe Rufo barreled a deep triple into center field and Aresty rounded third and chugged home, making the head-first dive into time to give Suffolk the 1-0 edge.
Endicott looked to even things up in the fourth. Liam Crovo drew a base on balls to lead things off. After Kyle Graboswki went down swinging, Crovo went to take advantage of a wild pitch during Jake Nardone's time at the plate. Steven Shamnoski collected the ball and hosed Crovo down at second to keep Gulls out of scoring position. It was a good thing as Nardone hit an off-the fence double to right center that would have brought the game-tying run in.
Free bases in the top of the fifth allowed the Gulls get back into the game. A hit by pitch by Vincent Walker was followed by back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. Joseph Millar's sac fly to right field leveled the playing field at one-all. A strikeout secured the second out of the inning, but Parker Browne hit the next two batters, which allowed the guests to go ahead, 2-1. Casey Sullivan took over for Browne and secured the final out of the frame with a ground out to second to keep it a one-run game.
Down one Suffolk's top of the order was due up in the home half of the fifth. With one out Gilbride and Cormier each single, which brought up Brigham. The team's leader in hits with a specialty of knocking doubles had a chance to tie the game if he found a gap. A double play ended those hopes though as Endicott successfully completed a 643 DP to hold onto its 2-1 lead.
The Rams found themselves in good position to score in the bottom of the sixth as Luke Harder singled and Aresty. Kozlowski handled the next three Suffolk hitters to keep the Gulls ahead by one.
Insurance came for Endicott in the top of the seventh as a stand-up RBI double from Millar pushed the distance to 3-1.
The Gulls brought in Nicholas Cannata to close. Seariac quickly figured out the new arm as he led off with a single. Gilbride moved him over with a ground out to short and Cormier's base hit through the right side put Seariac on third. Brigham barreled a ball to short that caught Cormier at second, but the Rams' left fielder beat the throw to first. That fielder's choice scored Seariac to slice the gap back to one, 3-2. The score stayed there as Harder flew out to shallow left for the final out of the day.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Browne slipped to 1-3 on the season after giving up two runs on two hits and five walks with two punchouts over 4.2 innings.
- Sullivan shoved 0.2 frames of scoreless work with one K to his credit.
- Shawn Nosky let up one run on one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
- Kozlowski secured the win behind a one-run, nine-hit, two-walk, four-strikeout effort over 6.0 innings.
- Cannata saved the victory despite allowing one run on two hits in 1.0 inning.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Cormier, Gilbride, Harder and Seariac each had two hits.
- Aresty and Seariac both scored one run.
- Brigham had one hit, a double.
- Aresty and Rufo supplied one hit each.
- Brigham and Rufo brought in one run apiece.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk and Endicott battled at the Rams' homefield for the fourth time in the all-time series history, first since April 16, 2013 and first in the Anthony Del Prete era.
- Harder matched a personal-best two hits.
- Nosky tied a career-high one strikeout.
POST-GAME PIC
SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams and Gulls conclude the CCC twinbill this afternoon.
