Baseball Takes Two From Elms Behind Solid Pitching
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elms | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elms | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 6 | 8 | 3 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team swept Elms College in a doubleheader match-up on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action at Alumni Field.
The Mariners won the opening game 3-0 thanks to an outstanding pitching performance by freshman Al Jordan Johnson, who came within one out of tossing a no-hitter. Classmate Tyler Shamas then took the ball for Mitchell in the second game and pitched the Mariners to a 6-4 victory. The two rookies combined to hold the Blazers to four hits on the day.
Mitchell and Elms will continue their weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14 beginning at noon in Holyoke, Mass.
Game 1 – Mitchell 3, Elms 0
Johnson was strong from the start, retiring the first 10 batters he faced. The streak ended when he walked Stephen Fisher with one out in the fourth, but Elms failed to capitalize on their first baserunner of the game.
Elms starter John Russell was equally impressive, allowing only two hits through the first five innings. It wasn't until the sixth that the Mariners finally got on the scoreboard, starting a three-run rally thanks to a lead-off single by the freshman Eddie Lorah. After sophomore Gavin LaLima was hit by a pitch, the Mariners played excellent small ball and moved both runners into scoring position on a bunt by classmate Drew Doyle. Lorah scored the game's first run on an Elms error, and sophomore Evan Peck made it 3-0 with a two-run single to left field.
Johnson took the no-hitter into the seventh and got a strike out and fly out to start the frame. He then got Samuel Farnsworth to hit a groundball to third, but an error extended the inning and gave the Blazers another crack at their first hit. Elms catcher Zach Dreher then broke up the no-hit bid with a single to right.
Johnson allowed just the one hit and struck out two over 7.0 innings. The shutout was the first of his collegiate career and evened his overall record at 3-3 on the season. Russell (1-2 overall) surrendered three runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out four in 5.2 innings of work.
Game 2 – Mitchell 6, Elms 4
Mitchell found itself in trouble in the second inning when Elms loaded the bases with no outs. The Blazers scored three runs in the frame with the help of a Mitchell error and an RBI groundout by Dan McCormack.
Mitchell's offense picked up in the third following a great at bat by LaLima, who worked a walk and then promptly stole second. Junior Marc Dorsi plated the run with a triple to right-center and then scored on an RBI groundout by the classmate Kenneth Olszewski.
The Blazers answered back with a run in the fourth to increase the lead to 4-2. Aedin Wadja got things started with a one-out single through the right side and later scored on a single by McCormack.
The Mariners pulled ahead 5-4 with a three-run fourth inning. Lorah drove in the first run with a double to left, and the tying and go-ahead runs later scored on an Elms error. Mitchell then picked up an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI single to right by Peck.
Shamas threw another complete game and improved his record to a team-leading 6-1 on the season. He allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out five over 7.0 innings.
Elms starter Curtis LeBeau (1-3 overall) gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 4.0 innings.
