WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Junior Tom Hudon (Merrimack, N.H.) tossed a complete game and gave up just two earned runs in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, but the Saint Anselm College baseball team opened its Florida trip with a pair of losses at Rollins College's Alfond Stadium. The Hawks fell to Concordia (N.Y.) College, 6-2, in game one and were edged by Rollins, 3-2, in the second game.
The Hawks sink to 0-5 on the season, while the Clippers improve to 2-0 and the Tars better their record to 7-8.
Hudon (0-2) held Rollins to just three runs – two earned – on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking two in 8.0 innings.
The Tars struck first in the bottom of the fourth when Philip Burket reached on a throwing error, stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on Nick Breen's sacrifice fly to center. Saint Anselm tied it in the sixth when junior Ken Morrisino (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) led off the frame with a double to right-center, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch.
Rollins went ahead with two runs in the bottom of the inning as Carlos Garmendia led off with a double to left and later scored on Burket's double down the left field line. Breen then plated Burket with a two-out single to right.
The Hawks sliced their deficit in half in the top of the seventh as junior Allan McQuarrie (Salem, N.H.) walked to begin the frame, went to third on a throwing error and scored on Morrisino's RBI fielder's choice.
Saint Anselm threatened in the eighth as senior Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) made it all the way to third with two outs, but a grounder to short ended the inning. The Hawks then went 1-2-3 in the ninth.
Morrisino (run, RBI) and Hayden both went 2-for-4, while sophomore Nick Bragole (Newburyport, Mass.) and freshman John Marculitis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) were each 1-for-4.
Matthew Tulley worked the first six innings for the Tars, allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits, while striking out seven and walking three. Rollins' bullpen relinquished just one hit in 3.0 innings of work.
In game one, Concordia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning against senior starter Dave Kent (N. Falmouth, Mass.) on an RBI double to left-center by Brian Bilello. The Clippers doubled their lead in the third on Erik Poldroo's run-scoring double to left-center.
The Hawks grabbed one back in the fourth as Morrisino led off with a single to center, stole second and scored on a two-out single to right by senior Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.).
Cristian Fiorito began the fourth with a solo shot to right that extended Concordia's lead to 3-1. The Clippers then scored two in the fifth on Bilello's two-run double to right-center that made in 5-1. Bilello continued his fine contest with a run-scoring single to right in the seventh to run the advantage to 6-1.
Bragole drove home a run in the ninth with a fielder's choice, but the Hawks would leave the bases loaded as Concordia received a big punch out to end it.
Kent (0-2) was tagged for five runs – four earned – on 11 hits, while fanning three and not walking a batter. Sophomore Cameron Latta (Lowell, Mass.) worked 1.2 innings of relief and gave up one run on three hits to go along with two strikeouts and two walks. Junior Tyler Buck (Franklin, Mass.) tossed 1.1 perfect innings out of the 'pen as he struck out a pair.
Marculitis was 2-for-3 with a walk, while Morin went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Hayden (run), Morrisino (run) and freshman Max Wadington (Burlington, Conn.) were all 1-for-4.
Thomas Burke started for the Clippers and went 6.2 innings, giving up one run on five hits, while striking out eight and walking just one.
The Hawks return to action Monday, March 2 at 6 p.m. when they take on Eckerd College. 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.
