Endicott Sweeps Nichols In Pivotal CCC Doubleheader, Haley Becomes All-Time Wins Leader

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott baseball team brought its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) record back to .500 with a crucial doubleheader sweep of Nichols by scores of 5-0 and 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at North Field. 

With both victories on Sunday, Endicott head coach Bryan Haley surpassed Larry Hiser as the winningest coach in program history. Coach Haley is currently 263-162 (.619) in his 10-year career (all at Endicott). Meanwhile, Hiser compiled a 262-217 (.547) record in his 13 years at Endicott.

GAME ONE: Endicott 5, Nichols 0 

Kevin Gould (Rollinsford, N.H.) was dominant in his sixth start of the season as the sophomore right-hander spun a seven inning, complete-game, four-hit shutout alongside zero walks and six strikeouts. Gould, who is 4-0 on the year, retired the side in order twice, never allowed a runner to reach third base (three times at second), and compiled 61 strikes on 91 pitches (67%). 

StigErik McElhinney (Dracut, Mass.) shouldered the loss (3-1) on six innings pitched, eight hits, five runs (all earned), two free passes, and two strikeouts. 

Tied 0-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Endicott broke open the contest with five straight hits for a total of five runs after Chris Seidl (Dracut, Mass.) extended the inning with two hits via a hit-by-pitch.

Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) followed Seidl with a single through the left side to put runners at first and second, while Ian Schmidt (Plymouth, Conn.) came up next and hammered a two-run double to left center for a 2-0 advantage. 

Joseph Deutsch (Fairfield, Conn.) then made it 3-0 with an RBI single to right field, and Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.) continued the rally with a single through the left side to once again put runners at first and second. Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt.) proceeded to cap the scoring in the frame with a deep triple to center playing Morganelli and Deutsch for the 5-0 lead. 

GAME TWO: Endicott 4, Nichols 2 

Endicott rallied from an early 2-0 hole in game two to complete the sweep. 

Down 2-0 in the fourth, the Gulls cut the deficit in half on a Matt Bald (De Pere, Wisc.) RBI single to center. Endicott then went on to take the lead in the fifth as Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) drove in Dan Cacciola (Saugus, Mass.) with a sacrifice fly to right, and tacked on to its advantage with a Mike Kochiss (Fairfield, Conn.) RBI base knock up the middle. 

The Gulls also added another insurance run in the sixth with an RBI double down the left field line by Hunter Boyce (Bangor, Maine). 

Corbin Hyde (Lewiston, Maine) was credited with the win (2-0) on one inning pitched, one hit, no runs, a walk, and two strikeouts. Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass.) notched a hold despite allowing three hits in the sixth, while Alexander Mandrus (Acton, Mass.) closed the door in the seventh for his first career save via two hits, no walks, and one strikeout. 

Adam Rigney (Niantic, Conn.) was the dealt the loss (4-2) on six innings, six hits, four runs (three earned), four free passes, and one punchout. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Defensively, Endicott gunned down two potential runs from scoring at home plate in game two.
• After an RBI double to left center in the second, Cacciola (CF), Kochiss (SS) and Boyce (C) executed a perfect 8-6-2 rally to save its first of two runs of the game.
• Berno (LF), Koschiss (SS), and Boyce (C) turned a similar rally in the sixth to keep the score at a 3-2 margin at the time. Boyce's tag on the second rally was the difference as he jumped and caught a high throw from Kochiss to tag the runner on his descent for the final out of the frame.
• Berno was 3-for-5 with two RBI in the doubleheader.
• Deutsch and Kochiss also had multi-hit afternoons.
• Colby Morris (Newburyport, Mass.) was handed the no-decision in game two via four innings pitched, six hits, two runs (both earned), a pair of walks, and one strikeout.
• Endicott is 30-7 in the all-time series versus Nichols.
• The Gulls are 7-4 at North Field this season. 

FOR THE FOES

• Andrew Doll (Plantation, Fla.) gave Nichols a 1-0 advantage in game two with an RBI double to left center.
• Tim Ford (Stafford Springs, Conn.) made it 2-0 in the third with a home run to left center, his second of the season (team's second).
• Nick Roy (Middletown, Conn.) was 5-for-7 out of the two-hole in Nichols' lineup.
• Christian Naccari (Ossining, N.Y.) went 3-for-3 with one run scored in game two. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

Endicott (11-9, 4-4 CCC) hosts non-conference foe Saint Joseph's (Me.) this coming Tuesday at 4 PM. Nichols (12-11, 4-4 CCC) welcomes Lasell to its campus on Tuesday at 3:30 PM. 

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