NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore Robert Kelly (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning and three pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Saint Anselm College baseball team earned a 1-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against the University of New Haven at Vieira Field on Saturday afternoon. New Haven won the nightcap, 4-3.
After freshman Dan Lagasse (Londonderry, N.H.) doubled to lead off the top of the fifth, three straight walks to seniors Steven Panza (Watertown, Mass.) and James Garrigan (Plymouth, Mass.), and Kelly, produced the game's only run.
Junior Neil Hesek (Northboro, Mass.) (1-3) went the first six innings and scattered four hits, while striking out five and walking just one to earn the win. Sophomore James Farrington (West Milford, N.J.) threw 1.2 innings of hitless ball before junior Joe Latino (Holden, Mass.) went the final 1.1, allowing just one hit to earn his first save of the season.
Garrigan put together the only multiple-hit performance for the Hawks, going 2-for-4 with a walk.
In game two, Saint Anselm held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but could not hang on.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the eighth, the Hawks went ahead on a two-out, two-run homer by senior Matt Sucharewicz (Peabody, Mass.).
Junior Sean Hayden (Haverhill, Mass.) worked the first seven innings, giving up two runs on 10 hits. He struck out four and walked one. Sophomore William O'Connor (Worcester, Mass.) (0-1) entered in the eighth and lasted just 0.1, relinquishing two runs on three hits. Freshman Zachary Brian (Stoneham, Mass.) tossed the final 0.2 of hitless ball, walking two.
Saint Anselm went in order in the ninth, grounding out three times to end the game.
Sucharewicz was 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
The Hawks return to action Sunday (12/3 p.m.) in a doubleheader at Saint Rose. Saint Anselm will serve as the home team as unplayable field conditions on the Hilltop forced the game location to be changed.
