EAST BOSTON – Suffolk baseball closed a CCC doubleheader with a 4-1 win over Gordon Friday night at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Gordon 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-8, 4-4 CCC) | Gordon (6-14, 3-9 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gordon capitalized on a Rams fielding error to make it a one-run gap in the fourth frame. Shane Demes tripled to center field and Patrick Tevenan and Andrew Hartman each drew walk to juice the bags. With two outs and a forced play at any base Evan Paquette chopped a hard ball to third. Gino Desimone grabbed it and went to tag the runner, but dropped it, which allowed Demers to score and give the visitors the lead.
The score stayed still until bottom of the seventh with Tim Brigham sent a no doubter to dead center. The solo shot leveled the playing field at 1-all.
Suffolk went ahead in its next time at the dish. Christian Seariac started things off with a double down the left field line. Rich Gilbride laid down a bunt to push him over and Blase Cormier's base hit through the right side plated the go-ahead run. Cormier worked his way to third on a stolen base and wide pitch and cruised in on Marc Birbiglia's single through the right side. Those pairs of gave the hosts a 3-1 edge.
It was the Fighting Scots turn to play catchup. Gordon tested Steven Rossi with two outs and runners on second and third. The right-handed junior showed his composure with the go-ahead run at the plate as Tevenan hit hard right to the mound. Rossi reacted quickly to make the play to first and keep the two-run advantage in the blue-and-gold's favor.
Suffolk padded its cushion in the eighth with one run of insurance. Steven Shamnoski started off with a single and advanced to second an over throw by the Fighting Scots third baseman Connor Hartman. Luke Harder looked to sacrifice himself with a bunt, but another Gordon mishap, this time a throwing error by the first baseman Demers gave the Rams runners in the corners. Seariac grounded out to short to collect an RBI and extend the margin to 4-1.
Parker Browne came in to save the victory, a crucial for Suffolk, who is in the hunt for its first CCC playoff birth. The senior walked his first batter, struck out the second and gave up a single to the third. Composure came into the play from there for the Rams' reliever. Browne locked up the final outs of the frame and the day with help from his defense. Michael James Jr. grabbed a line out to center before Seariac and Cormier connected for a ground out to second to clinch the victory.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Rossi gave up one unearned run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 8.0 innings to improve to 2-3 on the season.
- Browne picked up the save behind 1.0 inning of scoreless relief with one hit, one walk and one strikeout to his credit.
- Andrew Marzettta slipped to 1-3 on the year after letting up four runs, three earned, on 11 hits and two walks with four Ks.
- Charlie Perdue dealt 1.0 inning of scoreless, hitless relief with one K.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Cormier and Seariac had identical 3-for-5 efforts with one RBI and one run apiece. One of Seariac's hits was good for two bases.
- Brigham provide one hit, a bomb, for one RBI and one run scored with one walk as well.
- Birbiglia notched one hit and one RBI, while Shamnoski chipped in one hit and scored one run.
- Gilbride added one hit and put down a sac bunt.
- Aresty rounded out the Rams with hits with one on his stat line.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Gordon in back-to-back meetings for the first time in program history.
- The Rams moved to 2-3 all-time against the Fighting Scots.
- Suffolk is unbeaten against Gordon in Boston, 2-0.
- Brigham hit his sixth collegiate homer.
- Rossi matched a career-high in innings pitched with 8.0.
- Browne picked up his fourth collegiate save, first since the 2019 GNAC Quarterfinals 4-3 win over Lasell May 2, 2019.
POST-GAME PIC
SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams and Gordon will wrap up the home-and-home series tomorrow, Saturday, April 24. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
