Baseball Rallies To Earn Split With SVC
BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Southern Vermont College baseball team hosted NECC foe Becker College Saturday splitting with the Hawks in a 11-5 win in game one and a 6-4 loss in game two. Freshman Eric Wells (Athens, Pa.) crushed three home runs for the Mountaineers finishing the day batting 5-for-6 with four RBI, three runs scored, and two walks.
In game one of the Conference doubleheader the Hawks (13-11-1 Overall, 7-3 NECC) got off to a great start with a single from sophomore Jairo Valdez which was preceded by a two run homerun over the right field fence by freshman Joe Corey to make it 2-0 Becker.
The Mountaineers matched the Hawks two run homer with one of its own by Wells, his fifth of the year, bringing home Brett Pawlak (Shelton, Conn.) who had singled earlier in the inning to tie it up 2-2.
A scoreless second for BC and SVC (11-23 Overall, 7-3 NECC) was back at it with two lead-off singles from sophomore Adam Northup (Richmond, R.I.) and freshman Andrew Morin (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.). Freshman Pete Metzler (Lawrence, Kan.) helped the Mountaineers take the lead with sac fly to center field sending Northup home making it 3-2 SVC after two innings.
In the third Wells crushed his second home run of the day, a solo shot to right field, to give the Mountaineers a two run lead of 4-2 heading into the fourth inning. BC rallied with a sac fly from senior Josue Lopez and a RBI single from senior Geoff Sinnott Jr. to even it up at four all.
Freshman Keith Diotte (Cambridge, N.Y.) reached on an error by the short stop to start the fourth. A few batters later and Cook crushed a two run homer, his fourth of the year, giving the Mountaineers a 6-4 lead.
In the fifth an SVC error gave BC one run making it 6-5 heading into the bottom of the inning. Northup knocked his second base hit of the day to kick off the fifth for Southern Vermont College. Morin got hit by a pitch and Metzler reached on an error by the pitcher to load the bases. Diotte hit an RBI single into center and the next batter sophomore Dave Gage (Gloversville, N.Y.) cleared the bases with a double down the third base line giving the Mountaineers a 10-5 cushion. Gage made it home a few batters later when Cook hit an RBI single giving SVC an 11-5 lead heading into the sixth.
Mountaineers sophomore pitcher Tim Johnson (Bernardsville, N.J.) picked up the victory improving to 4-3 overall while striking out three and walking two. The Hawks ace Errick Maddern (5-3) picked up the loss, striking out four, walking two, and giving up eight runs.
In game two the Mountaineers jumped ahead with a three run second inning on an RBI fielder's choice from Pawlak with the bases loaded and two RBI single by Cook.
The Hawks put themselves on the board scoring on a fielder's choice in the fifth and Wells came back with his third home run on the day, seventh of the year, to make it 4-1 heading into the sixth inning.
Becker loaded the bases in the sixth and Weston Meehan smacked a clutch grand slam to right field to give Becker the lead at 5-4. An RBI single by the Hawks in the seventh gave them a 6-4 lead and after holding SVC in the seventh the game.
Northup (4-3) picked up the loss striking out four and walking three. Pierce Onthank (4-1) improved with the victory striking out 11 and only walking three.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy SVC Sports Information
