Baseball Takes Second Game of GNAC Doubleheader with Norwich
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Norwich | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Norwich | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | X | 19 | 15 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College baseball team bounced back from an 8–7 setback to Norwich University by soaring past the Cadets, 19–5, in the second game of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Mariners (17–7, 10–2 GNAC) return to action with a non-conference matchup on the road at Salve Regina University on Thursday, April 9, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Game 1 – Norwich 8, Mitchell 7
Norwich jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning on a pair of RBI singles and a two-run hit by Kevin Ohlsen.
Mitchell responded in the bottom half of the inning, as junior Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) delivered an RBI double before junior Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 4–3.
The Mariners pulled even in the sixth inning when sophomore Ryan Dennis (Ellington, Conn.) lifted a sacrifice fly to score freshman Will Estronza (New Britain, Conn.), making it a 4–4 game.
Norwich regained control in the eighth, plating three runs to take a 7–4 advantage. Mitchell answered in the bottom half of the frame, as Dennis delivered an RBI single, senior Johnny Brucato (Cheshire, Conn.) followed with an RBI double, and Ficocelli added a run-scoring single to tie the game at 7–7.
The Cadets pushed across the go-ahead run in the ninth, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to reclaim the lead at 8–7. Mitchell was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning.
The Mariners finished with 14 hits in the contest, with Terni Jr. leading the way with three hits, including a home run, and two RBI.
On the mound, junior Patrick Mitchell (Garristown, Ireland) got the start, while junior Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.) took the loss in relief despite striking out nine over 6.0 innings.
Norwich totaled nine hits, with Ohlsen and John O'Connor each driving in two runs.
Game 2 – Mitchell 19, Norwich 5
After falling behind 4–0 in the top of the first, the Mariners responded quickly, getting on the board in the second inning before erupting for five runs in the third to take the lead for good.
Mitchell continued to pour it on offensively, adding four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth to break the game open. Freshman Angel Rodriguez Cruz (Cidra, P.R.) delivered the biggest swing of the day with a grand slam in the fifth, finishing with a game-high five RBI. Junior Jayden Sgro (Glastonbury, Conn.) also went deep, launching a three-run home run in the fourth.
The Mariners finished with 15 hits in the contest, with Ficocelli leading the way with a 4-for-4 performance, including a double, three runs scored, and an RBI. Senior Kenneth Miller Jr. (New London, Conn.) added three hits, four runs scored, and an RBI, while Terni Jr. drove in two runs and scored three times.
On the mound, freshman Andrew Manzo (North Haven, Conn.) earned the win, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits over 5.0 innings while striking out two.
Norwich totaled five hits in the contest, with Kaden Jones recording an RBI triple.
