Baseball Splits With Suffolk

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott baseball team split its non-conference doubleheader against Suffolk University on Friday evening at North Field. Endicott fell in game one, 3-2, but bounced back in game two with a resounding 16-0 victory.

GAME ONE: Suffolk, 3 Endicott 2 (7 inn.)

Kevin Sinatra (East Boston, Mass.) earned the win (4-3) on five innings of work, six hits, two runs (both earned), no walks, and a game-high three strikeouts. Rams' closer Jake Flax (Wyckoff, N.J.) also picked up his fifth save of the season with a clean seventh inning (one strikeout).

Meanwhile, Will Ferreira (Nantucket, Mass.) received the loss (5-4) via 3 1/3 innings, two hits, three runs (all earned), three free passes, and two strikeouts.

Suffolk scored all three of its runs in the fourth on an RBI single, a bases-loaded walk, and a sacrifice fly to center.

Endicott cut the deficit to one over the next two innings as Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) launched a solo homer to left in the fourth, and Brad Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) singled in a run in the fifth. It wasn't enough, however, as Suffolk relievers' Rich Giandrea (Audobon, N.J.) and Flax put up zeros in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

GAME TWO: Endicott 16, Suffolk 0 (7 inn.)

The Gulls scored 16 runs on 12 hits – highlighted by three home runs – to come away with a split against the Rams.

Already leading 3-0 in the first inning, Ian Schmidt (Plymouth, Conn.) lifted a three-run shot over the left field fence to make it a 6-0 contest. Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) also ripped a two-run homer to left center in the fourth (10-0) and Kyle Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.) punctuated the win with a grand slam to right center in the same inning.

Joseph Oriola (Pembroke, Mass.), who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, improved to 5-3 on the year going six innings, while only yielding two hits and two walks alongside a game-high four strikeouts. Collin Hajjar (Cheshire, Conn.) finished out the seventh on one hit, no walks, and one punchout (first career appearance).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott is 16-11 in the all-time series against Suffolk.
• DeDonato finished his career ranked No. 10 in program history in batting average (.338), No. 7 in games played (tied, 171), No. 2 in runs scored (149), No. 5 in hits (205), No. 8 in doubles (37), No. 9 in home runs (8), No. 9 in RBI (103), No. 5 in total bases (tied, 276), No. 1 in stolen bases (98), No. 4 in assists (339), and No. 4 in double plays turned (74).
• Brennan hit his second career grand slam in game two.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott sees its season come to a close at 27-17 overall. Suffolk (25-17) will play in the NCAA Tournament later this month after winning the GNAC Championship and earning the conference's automatic bid into the tournament. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - David Le '10)