8th-ranked USM downs Endicott in slugfest, 24-15
April 7, 2009
GORHAM, Maine - The University of Southern Maine scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to overcome a one-run deficit and defeat Endicott College, 24-15, in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at the USM Baseball Stadium. The win was the third straight for the Huskies, ranked eighth in this week's D3baseball.com poll, and raises their record to 15-3 overall. The Gulls dropped their sixth straight decision to fall to 7-14.
The Huskies pounded out 20 hits, including seven for extra bases, and benefited from seven walks, a hit batsman and four Gull errors. The Gulls had 13 hits in the game, received nine walks and had three hit batsman.
Endicott took a 15-14 lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by junior Joe Klein (Monroe, Conn.) off USM sophomore right-hander Nick Hahn (Guilford, Conn.).
Southern Maine responded by sending 13 men to the plate in its half of the inning, banging out seven hits and receiving three walks. Senior Ryan Pike (Saco, Maine) brought home the first two runs with a single, and scored when junior Collin Henry (Penobscot, Maine) followed with a double to right center. Senior Ryan Gaffney (Salem, N.H.) had a two-run double and junior Josh Mackey (Danvers, Mass.) hit a three-run homer later in the inning.
Mackey and Gaffney paced the Huskies offense with four hits and three RBI apiece. Sophomore Mike Eaton (Sabattus, Maine) had three hits. Senior Anthony D'Alfonso (Westbrook, Maine) had two hits, including a home run, and five RBI. Hahn picked up the win to run his record to 2-0.
Freshman Michael Russo (Natick, Mass.) had four hits and two RBI for Endicott. Klein finished with three hits and three RBI. Sophomore Michael Drinkwater (Hamilton, Mass.), the fourth of seven pitchers used by the Gulls, took the loss.
Southern Maine is back in action on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.) when it travels to Husson University. Endicott travels to Babson College on Wednesday at the same time.