COLCHESTER, Vt. – Senior Rett Ostafin (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and junior Dan Lagasse (Londonderry, N.H.) each had RBI singles to tie the game in the third inning, but a four-run fourth lifted Saint Michael's College to a 6-2 victory against the Saint Anselm College baseball team Wednesday afternoon at Doc Jacobs Field.
The Hawks, who defeated Saint Michael's, 8-2, at home Tuesday afternoon, drop to 13-17-1 on the season, including 2-5 in Northeast-10 Northeast Division play. The Purple Knights better their record to 8-17 on the season and earn their first division victory to improve to 1-6.
Saint Michael's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against freshman Clayton Welch (Manchester, N.H.) – highlighted by Jacob Begnoche's two-out triple to right.
The Hawks countered with two of their own in the third. After Saint Anselm loaded the bases with one out following singles by senior Richie Manzi (Plymouth, N.H.) and sophomore Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.), as well as a walk to senior Robert Kelly (Aurora, Colo.), Lagasse stepped to the plate and singled through the right side to cut the deficit in half. Ostafin then followed with a base hit to left that knotted the game.
The Purple Knights did some two-out damage in the fourth as they hung a four-spot that would be the difference in the game. With a runner on third and two outs in the frame, four straight hits – a single to left by George Buteau, a pair of doubles to left-center from Chris Puliafico and David Valley and a base knock off the bat of Matt Feeney – quickly plated four runs that made it 6-2.
That would be all Nick Myers (3-1) would need as he went the distance and allowed a pair of runs on seven hits, while striking out six and walking four.
Welch (0-4) was charged with six runs – four earned – on seven hits, while walking one and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Senior William O'Connor (Worcester, Mass.) tossed 4.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits, walking one and fanning four.
Lagasse (RBI), Kelly (R) and junior Kyle Grumoli (So. Hadley, Mass.) were all 1-for-3. Ostafin (RBI), Hayden and junior Tito Lluberes (Lawrence, Mass.) went 1-for-4.
The Hawks return to action Thursday, April 11 at 3:30 p.m. when they take on crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire University at Penmen Field. The next home game for the Hawks is Saturday, April 20 when they play host to Merrimack College in doubleheader action that begins at noon at Sullivan Park. 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.
