WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Saint Anselm College Baseball team dropped both games in its double-header with Rockhurst University, 5-2 and 10-4, on Sunday morning at Bing Tyus Yard.
After getting out to a 4-0 start, the Hawks now drop to 4-3 on the young season. Rockhurst is now in the midst of a five-game winning streak, improving their record to 6-4. Saint Anselm battles Cedarville on Monday, Mar. 2 at 12:30 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Park.
In the first matchup of the day, the Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a triple off the bat of Logan Doran (Stony Brook, N.Y.), driving in Matt Collins (Beverly, Mass.) from third base before Doran slid home safely on a passed ball a few pitches later.
The second game of the day resulted in another loss for Saint Anselm. David Hunter (Middleton, Mass.) got the start on the mound for the Hawks, and lasted 4.2 innings, striking out one batter looking while allowing four hits and walking seven Rockhurst batters.
Rockhurst 5, Saint Anselm 2 | Box Score
Senior Ryan Schworer (Medfield, Mass.) pitched well, allowing only four hits while walking four batters and striking out seven. Rockhurst managed four runs off of Schworer, although only one tally counted as an earned run. The third inning yielded a big play for Rockhurst as Nathan Mark doubled down the left field line, driving in three baserunners.
Saint Anselm found themselves in scoring position in the bottom half of the inning, with Collins standing on third base and Brady Doran (Stony Brook, N.Y.) on first base with only one out. Rockhurst pitcher Michael Hellman was able to force Hawks catcher Enzo Merlonghi (Monroe, Conn.) to ground into an inning-ending double-play.
The fourth and fifth innings were both scoreless, keeping the score at a 3-2 in favor of Rockhurst entering the final two innings. In the top half of the sixth inning, Rockhurst pinch hitter Blake Pickard blasted a triple deep into center field, allowing teammate Joe Specht to score from first base, expanding the lead to 4-2.
Relief pitcher Tyler Wudyka (Sandwich, Mass.) took over in the final inning for Saint Anselm, managing to allow only one baserunner to reach home despite having the bases loaded with one out. Saint Anselm was unable to get any momentum going in the final half-inning, and the game ended with a 5-2 score.
Sophomore Drew Boli (Falmouth, Mass.) was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 in game one. Despite falling in the Sunday opener, the Hawks had a total of nine hits.
Rockhurst 10, Saint Anselm 4 | Box Score
Saint Anselm found themselves only down 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks to a Doran single with two outs that drove in Collins from third base.
After getting two outs in the fifth, momentum went to Rockhurst's favor. With two runners in scoring position, Connor Ellefson opened up the flood gates for Rockhurst, tagging a single to left field, allowing one baserunner to score and Nic Mertes to advance to third base. Sophomore Danny Smucker (Bridgeport, W. Va.) entered in relief of Hunter at this point, allowing four runs. Fellow classmate Mac Harris (Arlington, Mass.) relieved Smucker, and was able to put the inning away after only allowing two unearned runs, ending a seven-run inning for Rockhurst.
Saint Anselm recovered in the sixth inning with three runs, making the score 10-4. Brady Doran found his way home after getting walked and eventually scoring on a passed ball. Sophomore Enzo Merlonghi (Monroe, Conn.) and Logan Doran both scored on an error by the Rockhurst catcher Gage Gulley before the inning ended.
Back on the mound for the sixth inning, Harris forced two ground outs, and notched a strikeout, keeping Rockhurst at bay. Saint Anselm attempted a furious comeback in the final inning, managing to get the bases loaded with two outs before Mike Pierro (North Andover, Mass.) popped up to end the game.
Rockhurst pitcher Jacob Thigpen earned the win, posting four strikeouts through the first five innings. He also allowed five hits in the game.
Collins and Brady Doran powered the offense in the second game, recording two hits each.
