WINTER PARK, Fla. – Sophomore Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) went 3-for-6 and drove in four runs, while senior James Farrington (West Milford, N.J.) allowed just one run over seven innings, to lead the Saint Anselm College baseball team to its first win of the season, 13-5, against Assumption College in the opener of its spring break trip to Florida at Rollins College's Alfond Stadium.
The Hawks improve to 1-2-1 on the season, while the Greyhounds sink to 0-2.
Saint Anselm drew first blood in the top of the fourth when senior Rett Ostafin (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) hit a one-out double down the left field line, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out error by the shortstop.
The game stayed that way until the seventh when sophomore Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) tripled to right-center and scored when freshman Allan McQuarrie (Salem, N.H.) singled through the left side.
After Assumption jumped on the board in the bottom of the frame when Shane Keddy doubled to right and scored following a pair of groundouts, the Hawks put a pair up in the eighth to open their lead to 4-1.
Senior Robert Kelly (Aurora, Colo.) started things with a double to right before moving to third on Hayden's single to center and scoring when junior Dan Lagasse (Londonderry, N.H.) doubled. After the Greyhounds recorded a strikeout, Morin plated Hayden with a single to left that made it a three-run game.
The Hawks blew it open with nine in the ninth. Junior Tito Lluberes (Lawrence, Mass.) started the damage with a leadoff walk before stealing second and moving to third on a groundout. Following an intentional walk to Kelly, Hayden drove a double to center that plated both runners to push the lead to 6-1.
Lagasse followed with a triple that scored Hayden before back-to-back walks to Ostafin and freshman Ken Morrisino (East Longmeadow, Mass.) loaded the bases. After a strikeout, McQuarrie walked to drive in a run. Lluberes then came through with a double to right-center that cleared the bases and opened the lead to 11-1. After a pinch-hit single by sophomore Zach Husband (Bedford, N.H.) and a walk to Kelly, Hayden stroked a double to left that drove in a pair and made it 13-1.
Assumption pushed across four in the ninth, highlighted by a two-run single from Colin Clancy.
Farrington worked the first seven, allowing just a single run on two hits, while striking out five and walking one. Classmate William O'Connor (Worcester, Mass.) pitched the final two innings and relinquished four runs on four hits as he struck out one and walked one.
Hayden was 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Morin was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Kelly was also 2-for-4 and scored twice. Lagasse was 2-for-5, drove in a pair and scored once. Lluberes was 1-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs.
The Hawks return to action Sunday, March 3 at 11 a.m. as they take on Felician College at Alfond. The team then meets up with Rollins in a 2:30 p.m. matchup. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
