JWU takes two from Lasell in GNAC Baseball Action

Waltham, Mass (4/7/13) – The Lasell College baseball team dropped a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference baseball games to visiting Johnson and Wales University, 4-2 in game one and 4-1 in game two. The results drop Lasell to 7-13 on the season and 3-5 in GNAC competition, while the Wildcats improved to 15-8 on the season and 4-2 in league action.

Game One:

Billy Uberti (Newton, Mass.) went 2 for 2 with a pair of RBI's for Lasell, and Matt Sammarco (New Canaan, Conn.), Rob Madden (Hingham, Mass.) and Evan Mozingo (Brookfield, Conn.) each added singles in the game for the Lasers. Brendan Jordan (Rocky Hill, Conn.) took the loss on the hill for Lasell, hurling all seven innings while allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out three.

Alex Pezzuto (Hastings, N.Y.) had a double for JWU, while Zach Boyes (West Warwick, R.I.) and Tyler Newell (Westerly, R.I.) each drove in runs for the Wildcats. Aldo Morales (Havana, Cuba) earned the victory for JWU, tossing a complete game and giving up a pair of runs, one earned, on five hits and fanning seven in the game.

The Wildcats picked up a run in the first inning when James Reyes (Santo Domingo, D.R.) walked, was advanced to second base by a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Johnson and Wales got two more runs in the fourth inning, opening the inning with a pair of singles by Jack Hocking (Hanover, Mass.) and Jake Dickerson (Garnet Valley, Pa.). Both runners moved up on a well placed sacrifice bunt, coming in to score on consecutive passed balls to put JWU on top 3-0.

Pete Rosa (Ambler, Pa.) led off the top of the seventh with a single for the Wildcats, and stole second base. A sacrifice bunt moved Rosa to third and he subsequently scored on an RBI groundout by Newell to push the JWU lead to 4-0.

Lasell mounted a rally in the bottom half of the seventh when Madden opened the inning with a leadoff single. Jake Salkovitz (Brockton, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice that forced Madden out at second base, and Mozingo followed with a single that put runners on first and second. Uberti singled, scoring Salkovitz and when the centerfielder misplayed the ball, Mozingo came around to score. Morales retired the next two Lasell batters, ending the threat and the game giving JWU a 4-2 victory.

Game Two:

Uberti went 1 for 3 at the plate for Lasell in the second game, and Dustin Brown (Falmouth, Mass.) added a double as Lasell was limited to two hits in the contest. Greg Sherman (Marshfield, Mass.) took the loss on the mound for the Lasers, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits while striking out five in five innings of work. Vinny Romano (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Greg Trotteir (Rehoboth, Mass.) each tossed scoreless innings of relief for Lasell.

Jake Marchesseault (Wyoming, R.I.) tossed a gem for JWU, allowing one unearned run and only two hits while striking out 10 without a walk. Boyes and Pezzuto each went 2 for 4 at the plate for JWU, and Hocking was 1 for 4 with a pair of runs driven in to pace the Wildcats attack.

Kory Ferullo (Rochester, N.H.) reached on a one out single in the top of the first for JWU, and Boyes followed with a double to put runners on second and third with one out. Pezzuto singled scoring Ferullo and then Boyes came across on a Hocking groundout to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

 Lasell threatened in the home half of the fourth inning when Uberti reached on an error and Brown doubled to give Lasell runners on second and third with nobody out. Marchesseault shut down the Lasell offense recording three straight strikeouts to squash the threat.

Pezzuto reached on an error to open the top of the sixth, coming in to score on Hocking's single, chasing Sherman from the game. Hocking moved up to second on a wild pitch and then stole third to give JWU a runner on third with nobody out. Romano fanned the next hitter for the first out of the inning, but Hocking scored on a squeeze play to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead after five and a half innings.

Uberti started a Lasell rally in the bottom of the sixth with a one out single, and Brown was hit by a pitch giving Lasell a pair of base runners with one out. Bobby Stachura (Middletown, Conn.) reached on an error, but Brown was caught rounding second base for the second out of the inning, leaving Lasell with runners on the corners and two outs. Uberti scored on a passed ball, but Marchesseault again got out of trouble with a strikeout to end the inning.

Lasell was unable to mount a comeback in the seventh and JWU took home a 4-1 win in the second game.