Baseball Hosts Anna Maria in Home Opener in Hartford

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Elms College Baseball team hosted Anna Maria College in a non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon for their home opener at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium at Trinity College.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 6 | Anna Maria College 7
Records: Blazers 6-5, 0-0 (GNAC) | AMCats 7-5, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior infielder/pitcher Jayden Maynard (Enfield, Conn.) would take the ball for Elms in the non-conference game, but in the top of the first inning, Anna Maria would be the first to score, following an error committed by junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.). Fortunately, Maynard would be able to end the inning with a swinging strikeout to keep the score 1-0, AMCats. The Blazers offense would be able to load the bases in the bottom half of the inning, following a walk to first year outfielder Anthony Osella (Manchester, Conn.), sophomore outfielder Liam Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) would be hit by a pitch, and Essley hitting a single to the third baseman. Unfortunately, Elms would be unable to score in the inning. In the second inning, both teams would put together strong defensive efforts to keep the inning scoreless. The Blazers would see Maynard throw a second swinging strikeout and a single to left field by first year infielder Aidan Daugherty (Southwick, Mass.). In the top of third inning, senior pitcher Justin Saad (Waterford, Conn.) would come into the game to relieve Maynard, but the Anna Maria offense would capitalize on defensive mistakes by Elms and would score two runs. In the bottom half of the third inning, Pond would earn a walk and would score shortly thereafter a sophomore infielder/pitcher Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) would hit a double to left field. In the top of the fourth inning, Saad and the Blazers defense would hold the AMCats offense to a 1-2-3 scoreless inning with three groundouts. In the bottom of the inning, first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn.) would be hit by a pitch and Daugherty would hit a single to left field, but neither baserunner would score in the inning. Junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would come into the game in the top of the fifth inning to relieve Saad. During the inning, Anna Maria would earn a base hit, but they would be caught stealing after a throw down from first year catcher Franco Saglimbeni (Yaracuy, Venezuela) to Daugherty would apply the tag. Osella would lead off the inning with a lead off triple to right center field, followed by a walk to senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.), who would then steal second base. Shortly thereafter, Osella would score on a passed ball. Pond would be intentionally walked and B.Diaz would drive-in the game tying run with a single to left field. Essley would hit a single with a bunt back to the pitcher, where he would beat the throw, followed by a single up the middle by Faber that would see Pond score to take the lead. Senior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) and Osella would both earn walks to bring B.Diaz and Essley across the plate to take a 6-3 lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Ciaglo would throw a swinging strikeout and the Blazers defense would record another scoreless inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Pond would hit a single through the leftside, followed by a hit by pitch to Essley and a walk to Faber, but the Elms offense would not be able to add to their lead in the inning. In the top of the seventh inning, sophomore pitcher Sal Ortiz (Springfield, Mass.) would relieve Ciaglo, but the Anna Maria offense would see a resurgence and would score two runs in the inning and would then hand a scoreless inning to the Blazers. In the top of the eighth inning, junior pitcher Ryan Ziegler (Uncasville, Conn.) would relieve Ortiz, where he would toss a swinging strikeout, but the AMCats bats would continue to control the momentum and retake the lead after scoring two runs in the top half of the inning. The Elms offense would try to create opportunities to put baserunners in scoring position, but the Anna Maria defense would be able to capitalize and defeat the Blazers 7-6.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Osella: a run scored, a hit, with a triple, a run batted-in, and two walks.

• Scanlon-Dean: a run scored, a walk, and a stolen base.

• Pond: two runs scored, a hit, and two walks.

• B.Diaz: two hits, with a double, two runs batted-in, and a run scored.

• Maynard: would pitch two innings, with two strikeouts.

• Essley: a run scored, two hits, and a walk.

• Faber: a hit, a run batted-in, and two walks.

• Saad: would pitch two innings.

• Ciaglo: would pitch two innings, with a strikeout.

• Ziegler: would pitch two innings with a strikeout.

• Ortiz: would pitch and inning.

• Busca: a run batted-in and a walk.

• Daugherty: two hits.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will begin conference play on Saturday, March 21st hosting Norwich University in a doubleheader at 1 & 4 pm at Mackenzie Stadium.

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