Gulls Smash Runs Record in Doubleheader Sweep of Seahawks

The Gulls won the first game 15-2, then used a 13-run fifth inning to score a 23-3 victory in the second half of the twin-bill. Endicott (26-11, 15-1 CCC) has now won seven straight games and 12 of their last 13, and the Gulls have clinched a share of the CCC regular season title. The Seahawks drop to 26-10 (12-4 CCC) and have now lost three straight after having their ten-game win streak snapped on Friday. 

Game One: Endicott 15, Salve Regina 2

The Gulls led 3-0 before an out had been recorded in the top of the first inning, led 5-0 at the end of the frame, and hit two home runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Graduate student Colin Sitarz (W. Hartford, Conn.) was 3-for-5 with five runs batted in and three runs scored, while freshman Cody Hall (Rutland, Mass.) was 4-for-4 with a pair of runs and two RBIs.

Hall and fellow first year Matthew Paola (Middlebury, Conn.) each went deep for the first time n their Endicott careers and Sitarz hit a long three-run shot to left field for his ninth career homer, as Endicott scored four more times in the fourth to extend their lead to 10-0.

Paola, who scored twice and drove in two runs, led off the third inning with a long ball over the tall chain link fence in center field. He also had a 3-for-5 day at the plate, scoring three times and driving in three runs.

The Gulls piled on five more runs in a fifth inning that included five hits, all of them doubles. EJ Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) started the rally with a lead-off double to center field, and was brought in by Hall.  

Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, Mass.), who scored three times in the game and Hall came in on a two-run double by Sitarz, then Sitarz, Paola and Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) each exchanged places.

The Seahawks got on the board with a four-hit, two run inning in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Tim Harris (Southbury, Conn.) led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to center field and scored on a fielder's choice by freshman Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J.). Kelly would come around to score on a single through the left side by designated hitter Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn.), who was 2-for-3 on the day, the only player to have two of the Seahawk's 7 hits.

Senior Tyler Hitchcock (Abington, Mass.) pitched a complete game for the Gulls, improving to 7-0 for the season. Hitchcock struck out seven Seahawks and did not issue a free pass.

Junior Vincent Roth (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) lasted four and two-thirds innings and was responsible for eight hits and ten runs. He did strike out five batters and issued just one walk, but was not helped by his defense, which made three errors, causing three of his runs to be unearned. Roth took the loss to fall to 4-3 on the season.

Game Two: Endicott 23, Salve Regina 3

Paola smacked his second home-run of the day, a three-run shot, in a 13-run fifth inning as the Gulls set the record for most runs scored in a game. Paola had three more hits and scored three times for the Gulls, who also set a program mark for most doubles in a game, with 8 two-baggers.

Sitarz had three more RBIs and three more runs scored, while Brett Holmgren (Middleboro, Mass.) and Oringer each crossed the plate three times as well.

Endicott leadoff man Conor Ressel (Rockport, Mass.) was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Ressel started the game with a double to left center and scored on a wild pitch to get the Gulls on the board first.

The Gulls scored twice in the second to reclaim the lead after Salve had gone ahead 2-1, and then scored three times in each of the next two innings. Hall grounded out to score Gold, who had singled to start the second, then Ressel singled home Martinez with a shot up the middle in the second.

Designated hitter Eric Lemke (Southington, Conn.) was credited with a steal of home after walking and advancing to third on a throwing error.

Sitarz collected three more RBIs on consecutive doubles down the left field line in the third and fourth.

Gold added the final run in the fourth with a single to left field to knock home Paola.

Endicott pounded out 8 hits and took advantage of three errors in their fifth inning, which also included a two-run double by Ralph Fidaleo (Fairfield, Conn.) and a run-scoring double by Michael Cahill (Plymouth, Mass.).

The Seahawks had grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I.) doubled home Kelly, who was hit by a pitch to start the game. The Seahawks loaded the bases and second baseman Sean Becker (Richmond, Va.) took an RBI walk to force Kelly home. However, Endicott graduate student Mike Nich (Orange, Conn.) induced a groundout to second base from Mark Boland (Orange, Conn.) to end one of the only true scoring threats for the home team.

After being touched for two runs in the first, Nich settled down and threw six innings with six strikeouts to improve to 5-1 on the season. Nich allowed seven hits and walked two in the victory.

Salve Regina Senior Daniel Kehew (Portsmouth, R.I.) was roughed up for eight runs, six of them earned over three and a third innings pitched. Kehew allowed eight hits and four walks with only two strikeouts, and fell to 3-2 for the season.  

Endicott returns to North Field to celebrate Senior Day on Sunday afternoon with a single game against UMass Boston, starting at 12:00 pm.

The Seahawks will play their final regular season game of the year at home on Monday, a 3:30 pm first pitch against non-conference foe Framingham State.