Pilgrims earn split with Anna Maria
New England College baseball split a pair of one-run games with the visiting Anna Maria Amcats Tuesday afternoon, falling in game one 3-4 but rebounding in game two winning 7-6. With the split the Pilgrims move to 5-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference, while the Amcats move to 9-13-1 overall and even their conference record at 5-5.
In game one the Pilgrims would grab a one run lead in the bottom of the second inning but the Amcats would respond with two runs in the top half of the third. NEC would battle back regaining their one run lead plating a run in both the third and the fourth inning. The Amcat offense would have an answer as Jeff Lander (Gloucester, Mass.) would open up the sixth with a double and eventually come around to score and Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) would cross the plate on a James McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) double giving Anna Maria the 4-3 lead. The Pilgrims would threaten in the bottom of the sixth but leave a runner stranding at third as the Amcats would hold on for the 4-3 win.
Leading the way for Anna Maria was JK Vaughn (Simsbury, Conn.) who singled in two runs. On the mound for the Amcats was Matt Fournier (Worcester, Mass.) who pitched the complete game allowing just one earned run and allowing just five hits.
Leading the way for NEC was Dan Pratt (Concord, N.H.) who hit a homerun and Scott Miller (Mt. Airy, Md.) who singled twice and scored a run. Pitching the complete game for the Pilgrims was Taylor Vesey (Goffstown, N.H.) who allowed four earned runs on seven hits.
In game two the Pilgrims jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after three complete. The two teams would exchange runs in the fourth before Anna Maria would plate two runs in both the fifth and sixth inning making it a 7-6 Pilgrim lead but NEC closer Adam Climo (Southport, Maine) would retire the first three batters he faced in the seventh, keeping the Anna Maria off the board and recording his first save of the season.
Leading the way for NEC was Jimmy Hoyt (Rochester, N.H.) and Joe Clark (Newcastle, Maine) who each finished with two hits, two runs scored and a run batted in. NEC’s Mike Caravella (Milford, N.H.) singled in two runs for the Pilgrims. Picking up the win on the mound was Matt Shaughnessy (Manchester, N.H.) who allowed four runs in four innings of work.
Leading the way for Anna Maria was Jeff Scafidi who finished with two hits, two runs batted in and a run scored. Anna Maria’s Andy Fallon (Worcester, Mass.) and JK Vaughn each singled twice.
