JJ Branch & Davarn Nova Stifle Salem State, 3-0

SALEM, Mass. – Senior pitchers JJ Branch (Milford, Mass.) and Davarn Nova (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) combined to throw the first shutout of the season for the Gulls on Thursday evening as Endicott defeated Salem State University, 3-0, in non-conference play.

Branch scattered six hits and five walks over eight innings, and also struck out a game-high five batters in the win (4-0), while Nova induced three ground outs in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Both performances were noteworthy for the seniors as Branch moved into second on the all-time wins (22) list, and Nova slid into third place on the all-time saves (8) rankings.

Vikings' starter Will Twiss (Middleton, Mass.) took the loss (0-4) on four innings of work, eight hits, three runs (all earned), two free passes, and two strikeouts.

In the top of the second, the Gulls took a 2-0 advantage in the contest on a bases loaded single from Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) and a fielder's choice RBI via Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.). Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt.), Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.), and Anthony Serina (Portsmouth, R.I.) notched three straight singles to begin the frame and set up the scoring for Endicott before Salem State got out of the inning with a ground out, caught stealing at home, and a fly out to left field.

Endicott tacked on one more run for good measure in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center off Berno's bat, which scored Matthew Paola (Middlebury, Conn.).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Branch faced the minimum in four out of his eight innings pitched.
• Corbin Hyde (Lewiston, Maine) collected his first multi-hit game of the season today (3-for-4, one 2B, two SB).
• Endicott is 5-1 on the road this season.
• The Gulls are 2-0 against Salem State this season, and have also outscored the Vikings 11-6.

FOR THE FOES

• Mike Davis (Peabody, Mass.) and Dan Connors (Danvers, Mass.) both went 2-for-4 in the loss.
• Pete Gonski (East Lyme, Conn.) was solid in relief as the senior tossed three shutout innings and recorded three strikeouts alongside three hits and just one walk.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (14-8, 4-0 CCC) hosts Gordon College on Saturday for a conference doubleheader at 12/2:30 PM. Salem State (10-13-1) welcomes Mass. Maritime to its campus this Saturday in a doubleheader matchup at 12/2 PM. 

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