MYRTLE BEACH – A late rally by Suffolk baseball allowed the Rams to overcome an early deficit and take down Keene State, 13-10, Friday afternoon at Ebbets Field as part of the Ripken Experience. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 13 | Keene State 10
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-3) | Keene State (1-9)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk started the scoring in the top of the first with a pair of runs. Back-to-back errors by the Owls' second baseman allowed the first run come in, while Christian Seariac, who reached on the first Keene State mishap, came in behind Marc Birbiglia's base hit to right field.  

Keene State doubled the Rams offensive output in the home half of the inning to put the blue-and-gold in a 4-2 hole. Suffolk made up one run in the second when Luke Harder's single scored Michael James Jr., who led the frame off with a walk. 

More distance was put between the foes with as Keene State scored twice in both the third and fourth, respectively, to stretch the gap to 8-3. 

The Rams' bats stayed quiet until the sixth. Jack Lang came in to pitch for Gregory Esposito, however, it was another Owls error that allowed Suffolk's scoring to happen. This time a bobble by Keene State's third baseman on Ben Isaak's at bat let Blase Cormier. A balk later, Hurder's ground out to short brought in Dylan January to trim the deficit down to three, 8-5. Both Cormier and January knocked base hits to left field to get on base. 

A response from the Owls came in the bottom of the sixth in the form of one run on a wild pitch and four-run game stood as the game headed to the top of the seventh. That's when the Rams really made their move, scoring five runs on four hits and one error to take their first lead of the day, 10-9. 

Seariac started things off with a walk, Joe Ward followed with a single through the left side before Keene State made a change on the hill. Marc Birbiglia singled to right of the new wing to chuck the bags and an error by the short stop on Cormier's at bat let the first run of the frame come in. From there, James, January, Timothy McCarthy and Harder all brought runs in to push the blue-and-gold ahead. James sacrificed himself, January and Harder both recorded hits and McCarthy grounded out.

Caleb Piwnicki retired the side has he sandwiched strikeouts around a 6-3 groundout to keep Keene State quiet and hold onto the edge for the Rams. 

The teams traded runs in the eighth, which kept Suffolk in front, 11-10. The Rams lone tally was ticked by Ward, who wore a pitch, moved to third on Birbiglia's double to left and coasted in on James single to short. 

Insurance came in in the top of the ninth for the blue-and-gold. Once again, the Owls went to their bullpen to keep Suffolk quiet, but it worked in the Rams favor instead. McCarthy drew a base on balls, small ball by Harder pushed him over and Gilbride's triple to center brought in the first run of the frame. Seariac scored GIlbride with a base hit to right center to bump the lead to three, 13-10. 

Garret Roberts closed the day on the rubber. Despite letting up a pair of base runners, the sophomore right-handed pitcher sat down the tying run twice, both swinging, to lock up the win.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Piwnicki picked up the win behind a one-run, two-hit, one-walk, four-strikeout effort in 2.0 innings of relief. 
• Roberts recorded the save with a one-hit, one-walk, two-punchout performance in the final frame. 
• Harry Painter (4 R, 3 BB), Michael Muscarella (5.0 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 Ks), and EJ Birch (1.0 IP, 1 R, 1 H) all saw time on the mound for the Rams. 
• Phil Nichols suffered the setback after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with one K through 2.0 innings out of the pen. 
• Zach Corrado started for the Owls and gave up three runs, two earned, on three hits and one walk in the first frame. 
• Gregory Espositio was the most effective for Keene State with no runs in 4.0 innings of work with three hits and five punchouts. 
• Lang (1.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB) and Will Dolaher (1.0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB) shoved 1.0 inning of relief each.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• January paced the plate performance for the blue-and-gold with a 3-for-4 effort with one RBI and a pair of runs scored. 
• Harder had three RBI on two hits including one double.
• James brought in a pair of runs on one hit, one sac fly and one stolen base.
• Gilbride registered two hits, one triple, two runs scored and one RBI. 
• Cormier chipped in two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. 
• Seariac supplied two hits, two runs, one RBI and one stolen base.
• Ward scored twice to go along with one hit and one RBI.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk meet Keene State for the first time since March 19, 2016. 
• The Rams took a 3-2 edge in the all-time series with the Owls. 
• Suffolk has tallied back-to-back wins over Keene State. 
• Harder matched a career-high three RBI. 
• Piwnicki matched a personal-best four punchouts. 
• Roberts recorded his third save of the year and matched a career-best two Ks.
• Birbiglia struck for a career-high three hits.  
• James matched a personal-best in hits (1), RBI (2), runs scored (1) and stolen bases (1) and notched the first sac fly and walk of his collegiate career.
• January jotted a career high in hits (3) and tied a personal-best in runs scored (2) and RBI (1). 

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes its Spring Training trip at the Ripken Experience this afternoon in a rematch with Mt. Aloysius.