SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Dan Lagasse (Londonderry, N.H.) went 3-for-4 and drove in a run, while sophomore Ryan Cosmopulos (Seekonk, Mass.) and senior William O'Connor (Worcester, Mass.) each tossed a pair of shutout innings to lead the Saint Anselm College baseball team to a 6-4 win against Assumption College in the second game of a Thursday doubleheader at Bryant University's Conaty Park. The Hawks dropped game one, 11-6.
The Hawks are now 8-11-1 on the season, while the Greyhounds move to 4-13.
Saint Anselm went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first of game two when senior Richie Manzi (Plymouth, N.H.) singled to lead off the contest, moved to third on a single by junior Kyle Grumoli (South Hadley, Mass.) and scored when classmate Robert Kelly (Aurora, Colo.) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Fueled by a leadoff home run from Travis Smith and three Saint Anselm errors, Assumption put up three in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead.
The Hawks answered with three in the top of the third to move back in front. After a pair of outs to begin the frame, Kelly, sophomore Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) and Lagasse each singled to cut it to 3-2. Hayden then scored when Lagasse swiped second and a double to right by senior Rett Ostafin (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) plated Lagasse to make it 4-3.
After the Greyhounds tied it in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Nick Napoli, Saint Anselm grabbed the lead for good in the fourth when freshman Tom Murphy (Chelmsford, Mass.) singled to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a single by classmate Ken Morrisino (East Longmeadow, Mass.), went to third on a Manzi sacrifice and scored on Grumoli's sac fly to center.
With the pitching holding down Assumption the rest of the way, the Hawks posted an insurance run in the seventh when Kelly drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on a Lagasse single to center and scored on Ostafin's ground out to short.
Freshman Paul Trabucco (Salem, N.H.) started and pitched the first three innings, allowing four runs – two earned – on five hits, while walking one and striking out two. Cosmopulos (1-1) earned the win by giving up just a single hit through two innings, while O'Connor collected his first save, also allowing just a lone hit, while recording a strikeout in two innings of work to run his scoreless innings streak to 10.0.
Lagasse was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Morrisino was 2-for-3. Hayden went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
In the first game, Assumption jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second against freshman Tyler Buck (Franklin, Mass.). Buck was then relieved by junior Zachary Brian (Stoneham, Mass.) in the third, but had a runner he allowed aboard score to make it 6-0.
Saint Anselm sliced its deficit in half in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded walk by Kelly and a two-run double from Hayden. After Assumption went up 7-3 in the fifth, the Hawks plated two in the sixth on an Ostafin double to left-center and an RBI groundout by sophomore Bobby Carkhuff (Amherst, Mass.) that cut it to 7-5.
The Greyhounds put up two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to expand their lead to 11-5. The Hawks would get one back in the eighth on a sac fly from sophomore Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.), but that was as close as they would get.
Buck (0-1) relinquished six runs – five earned – on five hits and four walks in 2.1 innings. Brian was solid in relief as he gave up just a run on five hits, while striking out five in 3.2 innings. Junior Matt Wojichowski (Portsmouth, R.I.) was charged with four runs – all unearned – on one hit, while walking four and striking out one. Freshman Clayton Welch (Manchester, N.H.) pitched 1.1 perfect innings – striking out three of the four batters he faced.
Ostafin (RBI, R) and Lagasse (2 R) each went 2-for-4.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, March 29 at noon in a doubleheader at Bentley University. 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 and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
