Diaz Tosses a No-Hitter in Game 1 Against Norwich in Home Opening Conference Doubleheader

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Elms College Baseball team hosted Norwich University for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Mackenzie Stadium.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 11 | Norwich University
Records: Blazers 8-11, 2-5 (GNAC) | Cadets 5-16, 3-6 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | Dean College 6
Records: Blazers 8-12, 2-6 (GNAC) | Cadets 6-16, 4-6 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher/infielder Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) would start the game for Elms in their home opener, where in the tip of the first inning, he would strike out the first three batters. In the bottom half of the inning, senior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) would earn a walk, but the Blazers would not be able to score in the inning. In the top of the second inning, B.Diaz would give up a walk, hit a batter, and a fielder's choice, and Norwich would be the first to score on a passed ball, but B.Diaz and the Elms defense would record the three outs, including a looking strikeout, to get out of the jam. In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers would take control of the game, following walks to junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.) and first year outfielder Ryan Piccola (Oceanside, N.Y.). Essley and Piccola would both steal second base, and both runners would score after first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn,) would hit a single up the middle. Shortly thereafter, senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a single through the left side that would score Faber, and Busca would reach base on an error committed by the second baseman that would drive in Scanlon-Dean to take the lead, 4-1. In the top of the third inning, B.Diaz would continue to keep the Cadets at bay, by striking out three-straight batters for the second time of day. In the bottom half of the third, the Elms offense would continue to tally runs. During the inning, sophomore outfielder/infielder Liam Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) and Essley would earn back-to-back walks, Pond would steal second and third base, Piccola would hit a bunt single to drive in Pond and Faber would drive in Essley with a single to center field. Both Piccola and Faber would score moments later when Scanlon-Dean would hit a single up the middle. Scanlon-Dean would steal second base, and would score when first year catcher Eliam Martinez (Dominican Republic) would rip a single past the third baseman. Martinez would score minutes later when B.Diaz would hit a single up the middle, and then a double to right field by Pond would bring B.Diaz to bring the score to 11-1. In the fourth inning, the two defenses would make sure the other would not score, as B.Diaz would add back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the top half of the inning, followed by a single from Piccola and junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would reach base on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth inning, B.Diaz would toss two more swinging strikeouts and he would reach base on an error committed by the right fielder. In the sixth inning, the Blazers would continue the momentum in their favor when B.Diaz would record two more strikeouts and Faber would hit a single through the right side. Then in the top of seventh inning, Elms would record the first two outs, including a fourteenth strikeout by B.Diaz, but the Norwich offense would try to rally late, with three-straight walks and a stolen base. Then on a 1-1 count with the bases loaded, a fly ball would be caught by right fielder Busca to help B.Diaz complete the third no-hitter in program history.

Game 2
Junior infielder/pitcher Jayden Maynard (Enfield, Conn.) would take the ball for the Blazers in the second game of the doubleheader. During the first inning, Maynard would record three strikeouts, but the Cadets would score two runs to take the early lead. In the second inning, Norwich would score a run to bring the score to 3-0. In the third inning, senior pitcher Colby Arnold (Waterford, Conn.) would relieve Maynard, where he would throw one strikeout and keep the Cadets scoreless in the inning, followed by a single up the middle by first year infielder Aidan Daugherty (Southwick, Mass.). Neither team would score in the fourth inning, but in the fifth inning, Arnold would end the top half of the inning by striking out the last batter, followed by a double down the right field line and would be driven in by junior catcher Nicky Calvanese (Longmeadow, Mass.) hitting a single to left field to get Elms on the board. Arnold and the Blazers defense would continue to hold strong in the top of the sixth inning, preventing Norwich from extending their lead further. Then in the bottom half of the inning, B.Diaz would hit a home run to center field to bring the score to 3-2. Then in the seventh inning, Ciaglo would relieve Arnold, where he would toss three strikeouts in two innings, but the Cadets would be able to score a run in the inning and two more runs in the eighth inning. Then in the ninth inning, sophomore catcher/pitcher Alex Baeta (Bellingham, Mass.) would relieve Ciaglo, throwing a strikeout and a single would be hit by Essley. Unfortunately, Norwich would defeat the Blazers 6-2 to split the conference doubleheader.

NO-HITTERS IN ELMS COLLEGE BASEBALL HISTORY

• Matt Wood '11 - April 18, 2009 vs Newbury College (W, 6-0)

• Kevin Banas '20 - April 17, 2018 vs Southern Vermont College (W, 6-0)

• Brycen Diaz - April 8, 2026 vs Norwich University (W, 11-1)

* All three at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass. and during their sophomore season

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• B.Diaz: would pitch seven innings with 14 strikeouts while tossing a no-hitter on the mound, and would add a hit, with a home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted-in at the plate.

• Piccola: four hits, with a double, three runs scored, a run batted-in, a walk, and two stolen bases.

• Faber: three hits, two runs scored, and three runs batted-in.

• Scanlon-Dean: two hits, two runs scored, three runs batted-in, a walk, and two stolen bases.

• Pond: a hit, with a double, a run scored, a run batted-in, a walk, and two stolen bases.

• Essley: a hit, two runs scored, two walks, and two stolen bases.

• Martinez: a hit, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Calvanese: a hit and a run batted-in.

• Busca: a run batted-in and a walk.

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

• Arnold would pitch four innings, with two strikeouts.

• Ciaglo: would pitch two innings, with three strikeouts.

• Baeta: would pitch an inning, with a strikeout.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will travel to Northborough, Mass. to play Emerson College in a non-conference game on Thursday, April 9th at 3 pm.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.