MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Ken Morrisino (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) and freshman John Marculitis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) each drove in a run, but the Saint Anselm College baseball team only mustered three hits as Cole Warren tossed five no-hit innings to lead Southern New Hampshire University to a 14-3 victory Thursday evening at Penmen Field.
The Hawks fall to 10-17 on the season, including 7-7 in Northeast-10 play and 4-7 in the Northeast Division. The Penmen better their record to 21-7, 7-2 NE-10, 7-2 NE-10 NE.
Southern New Hampshire jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first against sophomore starter Cameron Latta (Lowell, Mass.), who recorded the final out of Wednesday's 8-5 victory at Assumption to earn the save. Zach Goldstein set the tone with a leadoff home run to left and then just three batters later, Mike Montville jacked a two-run homer to left-center.
The Penmen broke the game open with a five-run third inning that was highlighted by a three-run blast from Tyler Fortanascio. Two more in the fifth and Goldstein's RBI double to right-center in the sixth stretched the lead to 11-0.
Saint Anselm finally jumped on the board in the seventh when sophomore Matthew Flynn (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) reached on an error by the third baseman to score Marculitis, who led off the frame with an infield single to third. An error by the shortstop and a walk by freshman Max Wadington (Burlington, Conn.) pushed Marculitis to third and loaded the bases before the second error of the inning plated the Hawks' first run. Morrisino followed with a sacrifice fly to left that cut the deficit to 13-2.
Senior Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) led off the eighth inning with a walk before classmate Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) singled to right and sophomore Nick Bragole (Newburyport, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marculitis would drive home the Hawks' third run with a sac fly to left and another Wadington walk would pack the bags with two outs, but Saint Anselm would leave them full.
Lorenzo Papa's run-scoring double to left-center in the bottom of the stanza made it 14-3.
Latta (0-2) was tagged for seven runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking three in the first 2.2 innings. Freshman Adam Krol (Sunderland, Mass.) only gave up one run – unearned – on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in 1.1 innings. Junior Clayton Welch (Manchester, N.H.) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in 1.0 inning of work, while sophomore John Lavoie (Medford, Mass.) tossed 1.0 inning and gave up one run on one hit, striking out one and walking one. Junior Tyler Buck (Franklin, Mass.) threw 1.0 inning, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk to go along with a pair of K's. Freshman Luke Nerney (Guilford, Conn.) was charged with one run on two hits and a walk in 0.1 innings. Fellow freshman Andy Williams (Merrimack, N.H) retired both batters he faced, including one via the strikeout.
Hayden (run) and Morin were both 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, while Marculitis had the Hawks' only other hit and was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Wadington went 0-for-1 for three walks.
Warren started and threw five hitless innings, striking out 11 and walking five.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, April 18 (12/3 p.m.) when they take on Stonehill College in doubleheader action. The next home game for the Hawks is Friday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. when they play host to Bentley University 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.
