MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) tied the game with an RBI double in the third inning, but Bentley University plated a pair in the seventh to beat the Saint Anselm College baseball team, 5-3, Friday afternoon at Sullivan Park.
The Hawks fall to 11-23 on the season, including 8-13 in Northeast-10 play and 5-12 in the Northeast Division, while the Falcons improve to 9-16, 7-6 NE-10, 7-6 NE-10 NE.
Saint Anselm jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a pair of unearned runs. Junior Ken Morrisino (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) led off with a single to right and then went first-to-third on a line drive single by freshman Shaine Carpenter (Florham Park, N.J.) that went off the glove of the leaping shortstop and into center field. The centerfielder tried to throw Morrisino out at third, but his throw skipped by the third baseman and went out of play, allowing Morrisino to score and Carpenter to take third. Carpenter would then come home on a sacrifice fly to center by senior Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.).
Bentley went ahead with a three-run third against junior starter Tom Hudon (Merrimack, N.H.). The Falcons loaded the bases with one out before an infield single from Tom Nagy plated the first run and a two-run single to left from Ryan O'Connor put the visitors in the lead at 3-2.
The Hawks would tie the game in the bottom of the frame as Morin and Hayden began the inning with back-to-back doubles. Bentley starter Connor Root would retire the next three batters to strand Hayden in scoring position, however. Saint Anselm also put two in scoring position with two outs in the fourth, but Root again was able to get out of the jam.
The game remained tied at three into the seventh when Bentley struck for a pair to move in front. The Falcons had runners at second and third when O'Connor sent a ball back up the middle that barely made it through the drawn-in infield to put Bentley on top, 5-3.
Saint Anselm left two on in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not score.
Hudon (3-6) allowed five runs on 11 hits, while striking out eight and walking one in 6.1 innings. Sophomore Cameron Latta (Lowell, Mass.) tossed 1.2 innings of shutout relief, striking out one and walking one. Junior Seve Llanio (Glen Arm, Md.) also struck out one and issued a walk in a scoreless inning of work.
Hayden (RBI) and Morrisino (run) were both 2-for-5, while sophomore Matthew Flynn (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) went 2-for-4. Freshman John Marculitis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) was 1-for-3 (walk), with Carpenter (walk, run), Morin (RBI, run) and freshman Cody Carr (Milton, Mass.) all going 1-for-4.
Root gave up three runs – one earned – on 10 hits, while fanning five and not walking a batter over 6.0 innings.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, April 25 (12/3 p.m.) when they play host to Bentley in doubleheader action on Senior Day 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.
