Lasers Fall Short after Late Nighthawk Rally
NEWTON, MA—Newbury College used two-run innings in the eighth and the ninth to produce a 5-1 victory over the Lasell College baseball team on Tuesday night at Brandeis University. The Nighthawks improve their record to 4-12 while the Lasers drop to 2-12 in the defeat.
NEWTON, MA—Newbury College used two-run innings in the eighth and the ninth to produce a 5-1 victory over the Lasell College baseball team on Tuesday night at Brandeis University. The Nighthawks improve their record to 4-12 while the Lasers drop to 2-12 in the defeat.
Newbury’s starting pitcher Jorge Pimentel (Winstead, CT) picked up the victory on the mound, surrendering four hits while striking out six batters in seven innings. Aquib Shah (Watertown, MA) went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Nighthawks, also scoring one run.
Lasell’s Conor Cavanagh (Quincy, MA) and Mike Mahoney (Rockland, MA) each had a two-hit game, and Cavanagh also picked up the RBI on Lasell’s run in the ninth. Rookie pitcher Ryan Welch (Colorado Springs, CO) fanned four batters in eight and a third innings, giving up seven hits and four runs.
The game began with five scoreless innings, though both sides were not without chances. Lasell got into scoring position in the second inning when Cavanagh singled through the right side and Mike Mahoney doubled down the left field line with two outs. The Nighthawks closed the inning without damage when Russ DeMatties (Hamden, CT) fielded the play at short to get the final out.
The fourth inning was quick, each team seeing just three batters. Newbury’s Michael Dean (Wetherfield, CT) started the inning by walking, but an outstanding grab by Lasell’s second baseman Josh Sullivan (Rockland, MA) on a line drive by Justin MacCutcheon (Woburn, MA) turned into a double play at first to return Dean to the Nighthawks dugout. Welch retired the next batter, looking, to finish the half inning.
In the second half of the fourth, Newbury’s Kyle Schiavone (Wethersfield, CT) made two outs in center field coming in for an underhand grab in shallow center than backing into a deep fly out in the following play. Lasell grounded out to DeMatties to end the inning.
Newbury got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when DeMatties singled into center field, and then advanced on ground out at first. DeMatties reached third on a sac fly by Patrick Curry (Hampstead, NH) in right field, and scored on a passed ball.
Pimentel got out of the end of the sixth unscathed fanning the first Lasell batter in the bottom of the inning and getting help from DeMatties and Matthew Clawson (Tolland, CT) making a diving catch in right field.
The eighth inning saw the Nighthawks increase their edge to 3-0. Clawson drove a two-base hit into center field and was sent to third on a sacrifice bunt by DeMatties. Curry plated Clawson on a double down the right field line, and was brought home by Dean on a single into short center.
Matt Mahoney (Rockland, MA) and Herb Chappell (Salem, CT) both took base on balls in the eighth and Chappell moved into scoring position after a fielders choice, but the Nighthawk defense halted the Lasers chance with a great stop at third by Joseph Guidi (Derry, NH), and a double-play to end the inning.
The Nighthawks added two runs in the ninth. Alex Chetelat (Farmington, CT) scored on a Laser throwing error to first and Shah scored on a balk.
Lasell scored in the ninth when Sullivan ripped a tripled to the left field fence and Cavanagh dropped a single through the right side to bring Sullivan home. The Lasers left one on base at the conclusion of the game.
The Lasers will face another non-conference tilt Wednesday afternoon, April 7th, at Gordon College, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The Nighthawks are back in action at Wentworth Institute of Technology on Thursday, April 8th at 3:00 p.m.