SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior Kyle Grumoli (South Hadley, Mass.) knocked in three runs, including two on a double that helped key a five-run eighth inning, but the Saint Anselm College baseball team lost in walk-off fashion at Saint Leo University, 8-7, Friday evening at Southard Stadium.
The Hawks drop to 2-9-1 on the season, while the Lions, who were 5-3 winners against Saint Anselm on Thursday, improve to 14-6.
Saint Anselm trailed 7-2 with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the eighth when the rally started, harmlessly enough, with senior Robert Kelly (Aurora, Colo.) being hit by a pitch. Sophomore Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) then reached on an error and classmate Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) walked to load the bases. Senior Rett Ostafin (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) came through with a two-run single through the left side and Grumoli followed with a double to left that brought in two more to cut the deficit to 5-4. After an infield single from freshman Jack Hopkins (Brandywine, Md.) pushed Grumoli to third, freshman Allan McQuarrie (Salem, N.H.) singled through the right side to plate Grumoli and tie the game at five.
After freshman Terrence Walsh (Milton, Mass.) inherited a pair of runners with one out in the bottom of the frame, he induced a grounder for out No. 2 and then intentionally walked Bobby Twitty before striking out Michael Revell to leave the bases loaded.
The Hawks put the first two on in the top of the ninth, but a fielder's choice groundout and back-to-back strikeouts allowed Saint Leo to escape the jam.
The Lions would then win it in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Newcomb singled to lead off the frame, but was immediately erased when McQuarrie gunned him down trying to swipe second. Taed Moses followed with a walk before Taylor Perez flied out to right for the second out. Frank Rawdow was hit with a pitch to put runners at first and second and Daniel Torres came through with a single up the middle to bring the winning run around from second.
Walsh (0-1) pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits, while walking a pair and striking out one. Senior William O'Connor (Worcester, Mass.) tossed four shutout innings, giving up just three hits to go along with a walk and a strikeout. Freshman Seve Llanio (Glen Arm, Md.) started and was charged with seven runs on five hits and three walks over three innings.
Hopkins was 2-for-4, while Ostafin went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run. Kelly (2 R) and Morin (R) were both 1-for-3. Grumoli (3 RBI, R), McQuarrie (RBI) and Hayden (2 R) were all 1-for-4.
Saint Leo jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, which was highlighted by Torres' three-run triple to left-center. The Lions added another in the third on Perez' sacrifice fly.
Saint Anselm got on the board in the top of the fourth when Kelly led off with a single up the middle, advanced to second on Hayden's walk, moved to third on an Ostafin single through the left side and scored on a wild pitch. The Hawks cut it to 5-2 when Hayden came around on Grumoli's groundout to second.
The Lions had the answer in the bottom of the inning, however, as they received a two-run homer down the right field line off the bat of Ryan Brnovich that made it 7-2.
The Hawks wrap up their Florida trip Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. as they take on Rollins College at Alfond Stadium. 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).
