NEW LONDON, Conn. - SVC Baseball swept NECC foe Mitchell College on the Mariners turf in a Conference doubleheader Sunday winning 6-3 and 10-8. Junior Eric Gardner (Thompson, Conn.) had a breakout day as he went 4-for-7 with two RBI's at the plate while the hot bats of Pat Warrington (Folcroft, Pa.) and Eric Wells (Athens, Pa.) continued to generate SVC runs.
The wins improve the Mountaineers to 7-14 overall and 4-0 in the NECC giving them the first place spot in the New England Collegiate Conference for the first time this year. Mitchell falls to 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the NECC.
In game one, Southern Vermont jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-RBI hit by Warrington. The Mountaineers would score one run in each of the next four innings to take a 6-3 lead into the seventh inning, including a solo home run by Warrington in the third. Mitchell scored a run in the bottom of the second when Matt Hagan singled, stole second, and then scored on an RBI by.
The Mountaineers were led offensively by Warrington who went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a home run, Eric Gardner went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Starting pitcher Adam Northup (Richmond, R.I.) went the distance for the Mountaineers and picked up the victory, as he gave up nine hits and three runs and struck out four. Northup improves to 3-1 on the year with a 5.40 ERA.
Hagan finished the game going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a double, and left fielder Paul Martinez was 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI, one home run, and a double. Adam Deltgen (3-1) pitched all seven innings in the loss and gave up 11 hits, five earned runs and struck out 10 batters.
Game two of the doubleheader was more of an offensive battle. After a scoreless first inning for both squads Southern Vermont went ahead 2-0 with a groundout RBI from Pete Metzler (Lawrence, Kan.) and a RBI single from Dave Gage (Gloversville, N.Y.).
Mitchell tied the game at two in the bottom of the second on a double by John McGarry, a single by Matt Radke, and an RBI by Jared Bishop.
The Mountaineers scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning on singles by Northup, Eric Wells, and Gardner. The Mariners would score five runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but it was not enough to pull off the victory. They scored two runs in the fifth on a double by Hagan and singles by Perillo and McGarry. Perrillo drove in a run in the sixth on a double, and Bishop hit a clutch two RBI single.
Will Warner (Waterford, Conn.) picked up the win for Southern Vermont, as he pitched five innings and gave up three earned runs on nine hits. Warner improved to 2-1 on the season in 26 innings of action. Cody Faddis takes the loss for Mitchell on eight hits and five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. Wells went 4-for-7 with an RBI and three runs scored on the day for SVC.
The Mountaineers host The College of St. Joseph's this Tuesday on Epstein Field at 3:00 p.m. weather permitting.