Sullivan, Welch Earn Wins as Lasers Sweep Norwich in GNAC Doubleheader

WALTHAM, MA—Sophomore pitcher Joshua Sullivan (Rockland, MA) pitched a complete game, leading Lasell to their first victory of the year, against Norwich University, 15-4, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference baseball action on Saturday afternoon.  The Lasers followed up with an 8-5 win over the Cadets in the nightcap of the GNAC doubleheader, with freshman Ryan Welch (Colorado Springs, CO) on the mound.

Sullivan allowed just five hits and two earned runs in seven innings, striking out four batters en route to his first complete game and first win of the 2010 season.

Sullivan fielded two ground outs and struck out an additional Cadet batter to get out of a one-hit top of the first inning, leaving three Norwich runners on base.  Lasell then produced a four run, two hit bottom of the inning to take a prominent lead early-on.  Herb Chappell (Salem, CT) plated the Lasers’ first run on an infield single and Mike Mahoney (Rockland, MA) slugged in two more runners on an two-RBI double to left field. Freshman third baseman Bobby Statchura (Middletown, CT) ran in Chappell for the Lasers fourth score before the inning ended with three Lasers left on base.

Junior leftfielder Travis Dyke (Lewiston, ME) drove in both runs for the Cadets in the second inning, scored by sophomore David Maxfield (Randolph, VT) and sophomore Sean Kennedy (Madison, NJ) but Lasell answered with seven runs in the end of the frame, to take an 11-2 lead. 

Lasell took advantage of two Norwich errors and six hits to produce the seven run inning.  Carlton Lentini (Wilmington, MA) led off for Lasell with a single into left field and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball.  Conor Cavanagh (Quincy, MA) shot a base hit into the outfield, scoring Lentini in the process.  Statchura, Matt Mahoney (Rockland, MA), and Lentini each plated a runner and Jake Salkovitz (Brockton, MA) launched a two-bagger into left center scoring Statchura and Mike Mahoney. Norwich eventually ended the inning by picking off Lentini at second to escape from further damage.

The third inning belonged entirely to the Lasers who retired three consecutive Norwich batters and then scored four runs on four hits during their turn at bat. Norwich would score twice in the fifth when Kase Cook (Sharpsburg, GA) slapped a double to right center to drive in the final two marks of the game. 

Lentini batted 3-for-3 in the contest, complete with two runs, two RBI’s, and one walk. Mike Mahoney and Chappell went 2-for-4 at the plate and Grenier contributed to the Lasers victory with two additional hits. 

Maxfield launched two double’s in three turns at bat, adding one run for Norwich.  Cook and Dyke matched with two RBI’s apiece.

Norwich starter Ian Caird (New London, CT) was charged with the loss in one and a third innings.  Relief pitcher Don Dibastiani (White Hall, MD) fanned three batters in four and 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs.

The nightcap started out on a different tone as Norwich came out with a 1-0 advantage in the first inning, and produced a 4-0 lead by the third.

Dyke put the Cadets on top in the first when he walked then came around the bases on a Dustin Shimkus (Collinsville, IL) RBI-single.   The bottom of the inning ended quickly for Lasell with a fly out to left field and two ground-outs plays at first. 

In the second, David Wygonski (Vernon Hills, IL) and Maxfield each scored unearned on a Laser error at first base.  Shimkus singled through the left side to score Maxfield with two outs, and James Ramsay (Vestal, NY) advanced home on a balk, giving the visitors a 4 run edge.

The Cadets let up a four run inning in the bottom of the third to even the score.  Patrick Girard (Stonington, CT) led off the inning with a single, and was followed by Statchura who was hit by a pitch to advance the runners.  Sullivan brought in Statchura on a fielders choice, then stole second before James O’Neil (San Diego, CA) dropped in a long shot two-RBI double to left field to bring home Sullivan and Grenier.

Cavanaugh followed up with a two-bagger that fell in the left center gap, scoring the tying run.  With two outs and a full count, Mike Mahoney walked to load the bases again, but Norwich was able to close out the inning without allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Cavanagh made two catches in center field and Welch struck out one batter for a quick top of the fourth.  In the later half of the frame, Statchura singled through the left side and Lentini knocked a base-hit for the go–ahead run (5-4).  Sullivan followed with a lefty bat into shallow right field, setting the stage for Lasell’s game-winning run.  

Norwich made a pitching change midway through the inning, replacing starter Ryan Kelly (Niskayuna, NY) with Conar Mahon (Hopkinton, MA).  Sullivan stole second, and O’Neil walked to load the bases. Chappell’s two-RBI double to the left field fence scored the game winning run as well as an insurance run, making the score 7-4 at the end of the fifth inning.   

Sullivan flew a triple to left center to lead off in the sixth.  O’Neil hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Sullivan.

Maxfield registered the final run of the game, unearned, scoring on a passed ball for Norwich in the top of the seventh.  Welch secured his first win of the year in the 8-5 victory, retiring eight Cadet batters in six and 2/3 innings.  The freshman righty gave up only two hits and two earned runs in the conference triumph.

Sullivan went 2-4 in the second game, with three runs and one RBI.  O’Neil scored three runners with one hit and added one run.

Shimkus was the only Cadet to get hits in the second game, adding two RBI.  Kelly and Mahon each struck out two Lasell batters apiece.

Lasell returns to action on Sunday, March 28^th, at Emerson College for back-to-back games against the Lions.  The first game of the double-header begins at noon on Rotch Field.