WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Senior Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) and freshman Max Wadington (Burlington, Conn.) each went 2-for-4 and combined to drive in three runs as the Saint Anselm College baseball team wrapped up its Florida trip with a 7-6 victory against Assumption College on Saturday at Rollins College's Alfond Stadium.
The Hawks improve to 3-10, while the Greyhounds fall to 3-9.
Saint Anselm jumped out to a lead for just the second time on the trip, going ahead 1-0 in the top of the first when Wadington singled, stole second with two outs and then scored on Morin's base hit to left.
Assumption went in front in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to left from Kelvin Sims and a run-scoring single to left from Matt Murphy. The Greyhounds then expanded their lead to 3-1 in the third on Mike Coggeshall's RBI single to left.
The Hawks answered in the fifth, however, as senior Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) reached on a two-out error with the bases loaded to plate freshman Shaine Carpenter (Florham Park, N.J.), who reached on a fielder's choice, and junior Ken Morrisino (E. Longmeadow, Mass.), who singled to left, to tie the game at 3-all.
Assumption went in front, 5-3, in the sixth on Murphy's two-run double down the left field line. The Hawks fought back again with three runs in the seventh. Sophomore Matthew Flynn (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) led off the frame with a single to right, stole second, moved to third on Morrisino's grounder to the right side and scored on Wadington's single to left. After Hayden followed with a base hit to center, Morin singled to right to plate Wadington and tie the game at five. Sophomore Nick Bragole (Newburyport, Mass.) then produced an RBI fielder's choice to put Saint Anselm in front, 6-5.
The Hawks grabbed an important insurance run with some small ball in the eighth. Sophomore Jon McQuarrie (Salem, N.H.) began the inning with a single to left and was followed by a Carpenter walk. Flynn dropped down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Morrisino then laid a bunt down the third base line that squeezed McQuarrie home to make it 7-5.
Sophomore Joseph Levasseur (Rowley, Mass.) entered in the bottom of the eighth and gave up an unearned run on a Sims single to left that pulled Assumption within a run, but then slammed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Sophomore Autrey Gates (Pembroke, N.H.) started and allowed three runs on seven hits over 2.1 innings, while striking out two and walking one. Junior Tyler Buck (Franklin, Mass.) earned his first career win as he worked 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Levasseur, who picked up his first career victory Wednesday, earned his first career save as he was charged with one run – unearned – on one hit, while striking out two and walking one in 2.0 innings of work.
Morin (walk, 2 RBI), Wadington (walk, RBI, two runs) and McQuarrie (run) were all 2-for-4, while Flynn was 1-for-3 with a run scored, Morrisino was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Hayden was 1-for-5 with a run.
Steve Flynn tossed the first 6.0 innings for Assumption, giving up three runs – one earned – on four hits, while striking out six and walking three.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, March 14 (12/3 p.m.) in doubleheader action at Saint Thomas Aquinas 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.
