The Wildcats comeback strong
Manchester, NH— (1) Wilmington (Del.) defeated (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 8-1 eliminating the Spartans from the D-2 NE Regional. Ray Gambone led Wilmington on the mound tallying five strikeouts and allowing two hits through eight innings. Jarrett Shaffer pitched the ninth allowing two hits, and one run to end the game for the Wildcats. Matt Lopes had an outstanding day at the plate going 4 for 4 with two RBIs and scoring twice himself, also Frank Samluk (2 of 3), and Jon Castro (1 of 3) both recorded one RBI and scored a run.
St Thomas Aquinas tried a variety of pitchers throughout the game as they struggled to settle in; Robert Naughton started on the mound going 1.1 innings allowing four hits and four runs, Brian Tompkins went nearly two and a third innings letting up two runs on two hits, Daniel Diaz lasted two and a third innings with three hits for two runs, Jon Scott pitched a scoreless inning giving up three hits, and Joe DePool pitched a perfect ninth inning. Hitting was also a struggle for the Spartans with Frank Salerno (1 of 4), Nicholas Barbalato (1 for 4), Stanley Susana (1 for 3), and Efrain Bautista (1 for 4) accounting for all four of the Spartans hits with Barbalato scoring the only run.
When asked about how his team bounced back from yesterday’s loss Head Coach Brian August said this, “We felt Franklin Pierce was a very tough seed for us and they are one of the tougher teams we will face. We just re-focused, came out, and swung the bat today.” With this victory the Wildcats are set to move on to tomorrow and their opponent is yet to be determined.
Pat Simone was on the hill for New Haven as he went seven innings letting up seven hits and only one run as the (3)University of New Haven defeated (6)Franklin Pierce 3-1 on day two of the D-2 NE Regional. Peter Jay pitched very well for the Chargers in the eighth and ninth innings not allowing a hit or run. Kyle Cullen (2 for 4) had a solid day at the plate for the Chargers knocking in two runs and scoring once, along with Brendan O’Reilly (1 for 3) who scored twice. Chris DeMorais (1 for 4) recorded an RBI as well. Cullen hit the first home-run of the weekend over the center field wall in the second inning.
It was a tough game for Franklin Pierce’s starting pitcher Steve Hathaway who recorded 11 strikeouts but gave up three hits for three runs through five and two thirds innings before being relieved by Ryan Leach who gave up two hits but no runs through his three and one third innings to finish the game for the Ravens. Zach Mathieu and John Razzino both hit 2 for 4 with Mathieu recording the only RBI.
With the win the Chargers are set to face (1)Wilmington (Del.) tomorrow afternoon at 3:00pm in an elimination game with the winner advancing and taking on the winner of (5)Pace vs. (4)Southern New Hampshire University) at 7:00pm tomorrow night. Franklin Pierce will face the loser of the Pace vs. Southern New Hampshire University game at 11:00am in an elimination game.
SNHU wins again
Jon Massad lifted the (4)Southern New Hampshire University Penmen past the (5) Pace University Setters 3-2 on day two of the D-2 NE Regional. Massad gave up seven hits, and two runs through the first seven innings before being relieved by Alex Powers who gave up three hits without giving up a run. The Penmen managed only 5 hits; Brendan O’Brien (1 for 4), Matt Boulter (1 for 4), and Zach Goldstein (2 for 3). The Penmen’s three runs were scored by O’Brien, Boulter, and Goldstein on three consecutive errors in the third inning allowing the base runners to come home.
Michael Tamburino played great for the Setters on the mound throwing 129 pitches through nine innings with only five hits, and three runs given up. Robert Horn (3 for 4) drove in one run, while Jon Kovel (2 for 3) had a good day as well. Brandon Martineson (2 for 5) brought home a run along with scoring one himself. The Setters had a good day hitting racking up ten hits but just couldn’t seem to hit their runners home.
Two of the three match-ups for day three are set with the (5)Pace University Setters taking on (6)Franklin Pierce in an elimination game at 11:00am, the winner of which will play (4)Southern New Hampshire University at 7:00pm. (1)Wilmington (Del.) is set to take on the (3)University of New Haven in an elimination game at 3:00 pm. Day two also saw (2)St. Thomas Aquinas get eliminated after dropping both of their first two games.
