MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Freshman Max Wadington (Burlington, Conn.) went 2-for-3, was on base three times and drove in a run, but the Saint Anselm College baseball team dropped the final game of its season-opening three-game set to the 14th-ranked University of Mount Olive, 6-2, Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field.
The Hawks, who will leave the sunny and mid-60s weather of North Carolina and return home to a cold and snow-covered Hilltop, fall to 0-3 on the young season. The Trojans improve to 5-1.
Mount Olive wasted no time building a lead as it scored four runs in the first against sophomore starter Autrey Gates (Pembroke, N.H.). Kilgore Gailmard drove home the first run with an RBI single before Bretton Gouthro plated two with a single through the left side. The Trojans would score one more on a passed ball to exit the inning with a 4-0 advantage.
Justin Manning's single through the right side in the third made it 5-0 and Chris Leduc's RBI single in the seventh ran the lead to 6-0.
Saint Anselm finally broke through in the eighth as junior Ken Morrisino (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) reached on a two-out error, stole second and scored when Wadington singled to left.
The Hawks plated another in the ninth as senior Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) and sophomore Nick Bragole (Newburyport, Mass.) both reached on errors to begin the inning. Morin moved to third and Bragole was erased at second when freshman John Marculitis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Paul Trabucco (Salem, N.H.) then followed with an RBI single to center, but that was all the Hawks would get.
Gates (0-1) was tagged for five runs – four earned – on five hits and three walks, while striking out a pair. Freshman Adam Krol (Sunderland, Mass.) was solid in relief, tossing 4.2 innings of one-run ball, giving up four hits, while striking out three and walking one. Sophomore John Lavoie (Medford, Mass.) worked the final frame and was perfect other than hitting one batter before escaping with no further damage.
Jordy Farthing (1-0) started for the Trojans and pitched 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out four and walking three.
Wadington finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Trabucco had the other Saint Anselm hit, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.
The Hawks are off until they return south for their Florida spring break trip, which kicks off Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. when they take on Assumption College at Rollins College's 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 and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
