Coast Guard Rallies In Ninth To Defeat Clark

The Coast Guard Academy came back from a five-run hole on Friday to defeat Clark College in the NEWMAC opener. The following information was provided by the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Department:

Junior Eddie Kalankiewicz’s bloop single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth scored two runs as Coast Guard rallied from a 6-1 deficit and scored three runs in the ninth to beat Clark 7-6 in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams, the first game of a three-game weekend series.

Coast Guard was held hitless by sophomore Andrew LeBlanc through six innings and six different Cougars had RBI’s as Clark led 6-1 after six innings.

Kalankiewicz broke up LeBlanc’s no-hitter with another bloop hit, a double to center, leading off the seventh. Sophomore Cameron Caroll followed with a single before sophomore Eric Gerken’s two-run double made the score 6-3. Sophomore Ed Sella’ s single scored Gerken and chased LeBlanc, who allowed four hits and four earned runs while waking three and fanning four.

Senior Phillip Bertocci allowed no further damage retiring the Bears and keeping the score at 6-4.

Sophomore Nate Toll came on in relief of classmate Riley Beecher to start the eighth and Toll (2-1), who picked up the win, allowed just one single in two innings work. Beecher went seven innings and allowed 11 hits and six runs all earned while ealking two and striking out four.

Coast Guard freshman Dave Wolinski was hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth and Clark brought in senior and losing pitcher Robert Lopez (1-1) who allowed a single to sophomore Joe Petry and then a bunt single by Sherman to load the bases with no outs.

Sophomore Tyler Babkiewich grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Wolinski to make the score 6-5.

Following a pop out, a play in which Babkiewich was almost picked off first to end the game, but the ball was dropped at first base, Babkiewich stole second before Kalankiewicz’s high pop fell perfectly in shallow left just out of the reach of the diving Clark fielders stunning the Cougars, who drop to 7-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Kalankiewicz was 3 for 4 while Petry and Carroll each added a pair of hits for the Bears.

Junior Matthew Bohl was 3 for 4 to lead Clark while senior Peter Lewis and junior Nicholas Kellogg added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Cougars.

The Bears, who improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference, and Cougars will play at doubleheader at noon on Saturday in New London to conclude the weekend series.

Coast Guard won in walkoff fashion at home for the third straight time as last year, the Bears won the final home game of the regular season on a walkoff homer by Babkiewich before winning a home NEWMAC tournament game on a sacrifice fly by John Jeffares in the 11th inning.