Mariners Outdo Daniel Webster In Slugfest

The Mitchell College baseball team defeated Daniel Webster College on Sunday, completing a weekend sweep with a 15-12 win. The following information was provided by David Longolucco, sports information director at Mitchell College:

Mitchell (12-5-1 overall, 7-2 NECC) trailed 11-8 before taking the lead with a four-run sixth inning and padded the margin with a three-run seventh. Senior Drew Rossi (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) pitched the final three innings to nail down his third save of the season while reliever Travis Gembecki (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) earned his first career victory.

The Mariners jumped on top early behind a two-run double by junior Felix Colarte (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) in the first inning. Colarte then plated another pair of runs in the second on a bases-loaded single to left, and freshman Anthony Santiago (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech) followed with a RBI single to put Mitchell up 5-0.

Daniel Webster (12-7 overall, 5-5 NECC) got on the scoreboard in the third on a RBI single by Bruce Brown (Lowell, Mass./Gr. Lowell Tech/NECC). Darrik Marstaller (Spofford, N.H./Keene) also scored on the play due to a Mitchell error in the outfield, allowing the Eagles to cut the deficit to one at 3-2.

Mitchell added a run in the home half of the third on a sacrifice fly by senior Jeff Perillo (Newington, Conn./Newington), but Daniel Webster bounced back to tie the game behind a four-run fourth inning. Marstaller drove in the first run of the frame on a fielder’s choice, and Brown followed with a three-run homer to left to tie the game at 6-6. It was Brown’s first home run of the season.

The Mariners scored two runs in the fourth to go back in front. Senior Paul Martinez (New London, Conn./New London) dumped a single into right field with two outs to plate the first run, and junior Gus Maclao (Miami, Fla./Pace) followed with a RBI single to left.

Daniel Webster pulled ahead 10-8 in the fifth and chased Mitchell starter Jon Blair (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) from the game in the process. Tyler Bonin (Litchfield, N.H./Campbell) led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by Rich Lizotte (West Warwick, R.I./West Warwick). Blair then handed the ball over to Gembecki, who hit the first batter he faced before allowing a three-run home run to Zach Cantor (Windham, Maine/Windham). Cantor’s second long ball of the season gave the Eagles their first lead of the game.

Daniel Webster extended the lead to 11-8 on an RBI double by Lizotte in the sixth, but Mitchell rallied to take back the lead in the bottom of the frame. The Mariners loaded the bases with no outs, and the Eagles turned to reliever Conner Milliken (Dayville, Conn./Killingly) to get out of the jam. Mitchell, however, plated four runs in the inning, and Rossi scored the go-ahead run from third on a wild pitch.

The Mariners pushed across three insurance runs in the seventh to take a 15-11 lead. Santiago led off with a single and later scored due to an error in the outfield, and both Maclao and Perillo delivered RBI singles.

Rossi was solid on the mound in his three innings of relief. He entered the game in the seventh with two runners on and got three quick outs to escape any damage. The only run he allowed came in the ninth inning when Chris McKenzie (Burlington, Mass./Dean) led off with a double and scored on a fielder’s choice. Rossi ended the game with a pair of strikeouts to give the Mariners the win.

Brown went 3-for-6 with four RBI and Cantor went 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Eagles. Starter Syed Ali (Dracut, Mass./Dracut/N. Essex CC) worked four innings and allowed eight runs on 10 hits while striking out one and walking three. Milliken took the loss and allowed one run in one inning of work.

Both Santiago and Maclao finished with three hits on the day for Mitchell. Perillo had two hits and three RBI while Colarte added a pair of hits and four RBI. Gembecki threw two innings of relief and allowed three runs on three hits.

Mitchell will next host Elms College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 at noon. Daniel Webster returns to action at home against Southern Vermont College on Tuesday, April 12 at 3 p.m.