Baseball Loses a Tough Battle to Mitchell at Home

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Elms College Baseball team hosted RV Mitchell College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Mackenzie Stadium.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 5 | RV Mitchell College 13
Records: Blazers 8-14, 2-7 (GNAC) | Mariners 18-8, 11-2 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | RV Mitchell College 21
Records: Blazers 8-15, 2-8 (GNAC) | Mariners 19-8, 12-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Junior pitcher Scott Cooper (Middletown, R.I.) would take the pitcher's mound for Elms in the first game of the conference doubleheader, where Mitchell would score two early runs in the top of the first inning to take a lead, but Cooper would end the inning on a high note by striking out the last batter swinging. In the bottom of the first, junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.) would hit a double to center field and would later score when sophomore pitcher/infielder Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) would also hit a double to center field, to bring the score to 2-1. In the second inning, Cooper would add two strikeouts and first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn.) would hit a single past second base, but the Mariners would extend their lead by four runs in the top half of the inning. In the third inning, Cooper would add one final swinging strikeout and sophomore outfielder/infielder Liam Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) would be hit by a pitch, but the Mitchell offense would continue to add to their lead after scoring three runs in the inning. In the top of the fourth inning, senior infielder/pitcher Chase Prestia (Newington, Conn.) would relieve Cooper on the hill, where he would record a looking strikeout, but the Mariners would tally a run during the half inning. Then in the bottom half of the inning, B.Diaz would begin the inning by being hit by a pitch, but would be out on the next play when senior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) would reach base on a fielder's choice. But Busca would advance to second base on a passed ball and would later score when junior catcher Nicky Calvanese (Longmeadow, Mass.) would rip a single past the third baseman for their first run of the game. Both teams would hold the other scoreless in the fifth inning, but the Mitchell offense would regain momentum in the sixth inning, scoring three more runs. B.Diaz would hit a second double to right center field in the bottom of the sixth, but he would not be able to score. In the top of the seventh inning, sophomore catcher/pitcher Alex Baeta (Bellingham, Mass.) would relieve Prestia, and the Blazers defense would be able to keep the Mariners from scoring in the inning. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Calvanese would lead off with a double to right field and would score when junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a single to right field. Ciaglo would later advance to third base when senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a double to left field. Ciaglo would score in the next at bat when Essley would hit a single to left field and he would then steal second base. Scanlon-Dean would score when Pond would ground out at first base, as the Elms offense would look to continue their late rally, but Mitchell would record the final out and take the first game 13-5.

Game 2
Junior pitcher Luke Guyer (East Granby, Conn.) would step onto the hill for the Blazers in the second game. In the first inning, both conference teams would record scoreless innings, with a runner caught stealing after Baeta would throw the ball down to Faber over to B.Diaz would apply the tag and Guyer would punch out the last batter. In the top of the second inning, Guyer would strikeout a second batter, but the Mariners would score the first run of the game. Then in the bottom half of the inning, B.Diaz would lead off with a double to center field and would later score when Faber would hit a double up the middle to tie the game. In the third inning, the Elms defense would hand Mitchell a scoreless inning, which would be followed by the Blazers offense taking the lead momentarily after Scanlon-Dean would hit a single to center field and would later score when Essley would hit a sacrifice fly to right field. B.Diaz would be intentionally walked, but Elms would not be able to extend their lead further. The Mariners would then tie the game, 2-2, in the top of the fourth inning, but the Blazers would record an out on an appeal when a base runner would not touch third base when attempting to score. In the bottom of the fourth inning, first year outfielder Anthony Osella (Manchester, Conn.) would hit a single through the right side, first year infielder Jonas Diaz (Providence, R.I.) would earn a walk, and Baeta would reach base on a fielder's choice, but Elms would be unable to regain possession of the lead. In the top of the fifth inning, Guyer would give up three runs and then would be relieved by senior pitcher Justin Saad (Waterford, Conn.). Unfortunately, Mitchell would score 14 more runs during the inning, but Saad would end the inning with a looking strikeout. In the bottom half of the inning, first year catcher Franco Saglimbeni (Yaracuy, Venezuela) would hit a single past third base, but the Blazers would not be able to score in the inning. In the sixth inning, junior pitcher/outfielder Sean Rosemond (Springfield, Mass.) would relieve Saad, where he recorded two strikeouts in the inning, but the Mariners would add two more runs to their lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Osella and J.Diaz would both hit singles but once again, the Elms offense would be handed a scoreless inning. In the seventh inning, Rosemond would finish the inning with back-to-back swinging strikeouts, and first year outfielder Ryan Piccola (Oceanside, N.Y.) would hit a single to left field. Unfortunately, Mitchell would record the final out to defeat the Blazers 21-2 and secure the conference victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• B.Diaz: three hits, with three doubles, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Essley: two hits, with a double, a run scored, two runs batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Calvanese: two hits, with a double, a run scored, and a run batted-in.

• Scanlon-Dean: two hits, with a double and two runs scored.

• Faber: two hits, with a double and a run batted-in.

• Osella: two hits.

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

• J.Diaz: a hit and a walk.

• Guyer: would pitch four innings, with two strikeouts.

• Cooper: would pitch three innings, with four strikeouts.

• Prestia: would pitch three innings, with a strikeout.

• Rosemond: would pitch two innings, with four strikeouts.

• Saad would pitch an inning, with a strikeout.

• Baeta would pitch an inning.

• Saglimbeni: a hit.

• Piccola: a hit.

• Busca: a run scored.

• Pond: a run batted-in.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will travel to Henniker, N.H. for a conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 12th at 1 & 3 pm at New England College.

--

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