Endicott Drops Patriots Day Game to NESCAC Foe Bates

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott baseball team was defeated 8-4 by NESCAC opponent Bates on Patriots Day on North Field Monday as the Bobcats got off to a hot start in the early innings, scoring one run in the top of the first and five in the second en route to their non-conference victory over the Gulls. Bates was led offensively by junior left fielder Rockwell Jackson (Fort Worth, Texas) who out of the leadoff spot went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Endicott (21-10) got three runs in the bottom of the fifth, one a hit to center by senior centerfielder Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) and two more on a single to right by senior first baseman Brett Holmgren (Middleboro, Mass.), to make it an 8-4 game in the bottom of the fifth but both teams were held off the scoreboard over the final four frames to cap the scoring.

Next up for the Gulls will be North Shore Cup rival Salem State on Wednesday, April 23^rd at home as the two teams wrap up their home and away doubleheader. The Vikings edged Endicott 12-11 back on April 10^th with a walk-off win the bottom of the ninth after the Blue and Green tied the game in the top of the ninth with four runs. First pitch between Endicott and Salem State is at 3:30 pm.

Bates (14-11) will travel to Maine opponent Husson for a two games starting at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 23^rd.

The Bobcats got five solid innings from freshman starter Anthony Telesca (Holsville, N.Y.) who earned his first win of the season by allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Telesca turned the ball over to his bullpen who proceeded to allow to just one hit through the final four innings of the game including 2 1/3 no-hit innings from sophomore Connor Colombo (Mendon, Mass.) and a scoreless, no-hit ninth from sophomore Rob DiFranco (Melrose, Mass.) who struck out one batter.

Endicott's bullpen was equally as impressive as freshman righty Colby Morris (Newburyport, Mass.) threw three shutout innings, allowing just two hits in the process. Sophomore Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.), despite allowing a hit and a walk in the ninth, did not allow a run to cross the plate.

Bates' big inning offensively came in the second when the Bobcats forced the bases loaded and got three RBI hits from Jackson, a single center, Griff Tewksbury (Concord, N.H.) , a bases clearing double to left center, and Kevin Davis (North Andover, Mass.), a RBI single to right.

Endicott got their RBIs from senior catcher EJ Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) who drove a single to right in the fourth to score Gold as well as the three runs that were produced in the bottom of the fifth.