MANCHESTER, NH – Saint Anselm baseball earned its first home and conference wins of the season with a pair of victories over Saint Michael's. The Hawks cruised to a 10-2 win in the first game before securing a 6-5 victory in the second game, highlighted by a go-ahead double in the sixth inning.
UP NEXT:
GAME 1
Score: Saint Anselm 10, Saint Michael's 2 (9 inn.)
Win: Knudsen (4-1) Loss: Hagen (0-2)
Records: Saint Anselm 5-16 (1-3); Saint Michael's 2-13 (1-4)
Location: Manchester, NH
Date: Friday, March 28th, 2025
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1):
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The Purple Knights struck first in the top of the first inning when Sam Cavossa launched a solo home run over the right field wall.
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However, Saint Anselm capitalized on four errors in the third inning. Freshman Jackson Powers (Woburn, Mass.) scored the tying run on an RBI single from sophomore Brendan Gonzalez (Mechanicville, N.Y.). Sophomore Mavrick Bourdeau (Billerica, Mass.) later crossed the plate to put the Hawks ahead, taking advantage of another error.
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Saint Michael's responded in the fourth inning, using an error to tie the game as Max Kolifrath came around to score.
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The Hawks broke the game open in the bottom of the inning. It began with a run-scoring single from Powers, bringing home freshman Peter Fischer (Marshfield, Mass.). Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to score sophomore Austin Brune (Billerica, Mass.). Powers then scored on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly from freshman George Slauson (Plymouth, Mass.) drove in Bourdeau. To cap off the five-run inning, Gonzalez scored on a grounder from junior Ben Rose (Webster, N.H.).
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Rose continued his stellar performance in the sixth inning with a two-RBI single, driving in Bourdeau and Gonzalez to give the Hawks a commanding 9-2 lead.
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Saint Anselm added to their lead in the seventh inning, as Gonzalez recorded his fourth hit of the game, bringing home Brune to make it a 10-2 advantage. The Hawks' pitching staff held the Purple Knights scoreless over the final five innings, securing the victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 1):
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This marked the 63rd meeting between the two programs. With the victory, the Hawks improved to 41-22 all-time against the Purple Knights, snapping a two-game losing streak in the series.
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Freshman Gabe Knudsen (Hanover, Mass.) delivered an impressive performance on the mound, earning his fourth win of the season. He pitched seven innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out three.
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Freshman Jake Schoenberg (Holliston, Mass.) closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
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At the plate, sophomore Brendan Gonzalez (Mechanicville, N.Y.) continued his hot streak, extending his hit streak to 17 games. Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
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Sophomore Mavrick Bourdeau (Billerica, Mass.) also extended his hit streak to 10 games, recording two hits and a walk while scoring on all three trips to the plate.
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Junior Ben Rose (Webster, N.H.) drove in three runs on two hits, stretching his own hit streak to eight games.
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Freshman Peter Fischer (Marshfield, Mass.) had a strong day as well, reaching base four times with two hits and two walks. The two hits being the first of his career on the Hilltop.
GAME 2
Score: Saint Anselm 6, Saint Michael's 5 (9 inn.)
Win: Smith (1-1) Loss: Burke (0-3)
Records: Saint Anselm 6-16 (2-3); Saint Michael's 2-14 (1-5)
Location: Manchester, NH
Date: Friday, March 28th, 2025
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
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The Hawks got on the board in the top of the first with a single by junior Ben Rose (Webster, N.H.) scoring sophomore Mavrick Bourdeau (Billerica, Mass.) for the opening run of the game.
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Saint Michael's found their first runs in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded triple by Sam Cavossa, clearing the bases to give the Purple Knights a 3-1 lead.
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Saint Anselm responded in the bottom of the fifth with a double by sophomore Brendan Gonzalez (Mechanicville, N.Y.) scoring freshman Jackson Powers (Woburn, Mass.) to cut the deficit to one. The Hawks then jumped in front with a two-RBI single by sophomore Owen McCarron (Holliston, Mass.), scoring Gonzalez and freshman George Slauson (Plymouth, Mass.).
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The Purple Knights retook the lead in the sixth with one swing of the bat by Cavossa, whose two-run home run moved the score to 5-4 in Saint Michael's favor.
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The lead flipped again in the bottom of the inning, with Gonzalez doubling to right field, scoring Powers and freshman Peter Fischer (Marshfield, Mass.).
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That 6-5 score would hold for the rest of the game, with neither side scoring in the final three innings.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 2):
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This was the 64th meeting between Saint Michael's and Saint Anselm, with the Hawks moving to 42-22 all-time in the series, starting a streak with two straight wins over the Purple Knights.
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Sophomore Caden Smith (Lowell, Mass.) picked up the win, pitching 2.2 innings with three earned runs and four strikeouts.
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Junior Nolan Mederos (Nashua, N.H.) pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing no runs and just one hit while striking out three.
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Freshman Josh Bryant (Plymouth, Mass.) earned his first career save, pitching 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
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Sophomore Brendan Gonzalez (Mechanicville, N.Y.) extended his hit streak to 18 games with two hits, driving in three runs and scoring once. He finished the day six-for-ten with six RBIs and three runs over the doubleheader.
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Sophomore Mavrick Bourdeau (Billerica, Mass.) also extended his hit streak to 11 games.
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Junior Ben Rose (Webster, N.H.) added a hit, pushing his hit streak to nine games.
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Freshman Jackson Powers (Woburn, Mass.) led the team with a career-high three hits in four at-bats, scoring two of the team's six runs.
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