EAST BOSTON – Suffolk baseball opened its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader against Wentworth in the win column as the Rams defeated the Leopards, 6-4, Saturday at East Boston Memorial Park.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6 | Wentworth 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (21-18, 5-10 CCC) | Wentworth (13-17, 3-12 CCC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's scoring started in the second thanks to a monster error by the Leopards centerfielder Nolan McManus. Wentworth's outfielder came into grab Shane Lake's fly ball, but missed the catch and it rolled past him all the way to the fence. Not only did it let Lake touch all the bags, but Blase Cormier, who led off with a stand-up double down the left field line, to push the host ahead by a pair.  

Each team put up one run in the next frame, both on infield ground outs, to make it a 3-1 game with three innings in the books. 

The Rams continued their offensive output in the fourth to pad the margin to five. After Jonny Gilbride walked and Garret Roberts worked a walk Wentworth went to its pen. Brodi Farinas came in to deal for Jon Campbell. The change did not stop Suffolk from scoring as Christian Seariac barreled a ground-rule double to left center to bring in Gilbride. One out and an intentional walk later, Marc Birbiglia collected two RBI on his single to left field to extend the edge to 6-1.   

Suffolk's bats stayed quiet from there, however the same can't be said about Wentworth.  

The Leopards scored one in the seventh to trim the deficit down to four. Things got interesting two innings later. With runners on first and second and two outs, Lake botched a throw to first for the final out of the day. That mishap from the blue-and-gold's catcher landed in the outfielder and let the two runners come around to make it a two-run game.  

Steven Rossi came in to take over the bump for Garret Roberts, who was injured on the previous play made by Lake. The senior right-hander reliever fanned Michael Petit looking to seal the victory for Suffolk.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Nick Reiser earned the decision behind a two-run, nine-hit, six-strikeout effort in 7.0 innings. 
• Shawn Nosky shoved an inning of hitless, scoreless relief with one walk and one K. 
• Rossi picked up a save after securing the final out on a backwards K. 
• Campbell slipped on the hill for the Leopards after letting up five runs, three earned, on five hits and five walks with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings. 
• Farinas put together a one-run, four-hit, three-walk, two-strikeout effort in 5.0 innings. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Birbiglia went 2-for-3 with one triple and two RBI to go along with one run scored. 
• Seariac supplied two hits, including a double, with one RBI and one run, respectively. 
• Cormier logged one double, one RBI and scored one run. 
• Roberts and Gilbride added one hit and one run. 
• Harry Painter and Luke Harder rounded out the Rams with a hit with one to their credits, respectively. 
• Lake chipped in one run scored.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its sixth game in a row against Wentworth to move to 15-3 all-time against the Leopards. 
• Reiser matched a career-high six strikeouts. 
• Birbiglia (seven games), Cormier (eight games), Harder (four games) and Painter (three games) all extended their hit streaks.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk and Wentworth conclude the double feature tonight under the lights.