Box Score Game 1 Box Score Game 2
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Southern Vermont College baseball team split a doubleheader against New England Collegiate Conference foe the Mariners of Mitchell College losing the the first game 4-0 and winning the second 11-8. Southern Vermont (6-10 overall, 2-3 NECC) came from behind twice in the second game before handing the Mariners their first conference loss. Pat Warrington went 2-for-3 with six RBI, including a grand slam in the sixth, to lead the way for the Mountaineers.
Mitchell (9-7 overall, 4-1 NECC) took the first game behind a strong effort from senior Jeremy Chapman, who recorded his second shutout of the season while fanning a career-high 15 batters in 7.0 innings.
In the first game the Mariners gave Chapman all the run support he would need in the second inning. Freshman Justin Szela put Mitchell on the board with an RBI single through the right side of the infield that scored senior Andrew Langlais. The Mariners added a pair of runs in the third on RBI singles from junior Jeff Perillo and sophomore Ethan Graynor and tacked on its final run on an RBI single by Langlais in the sixth.
Southern Vermont (6-10 overall, 2-3 NECC) put runners on base in every inning but the seventh. The Mountaineers had their best chance to score in the fourth inning, loading the bases with only one out. Chapman, however, got the final two outs of the frame via strikeout. Southern Vermont left 10 runners on base in the contest.
Chapman allowed only five hits and issued four walks. He improved to 3-0 on the season and has allowed just one earned run in 27.0 innings of work.
Connor Murray took the loss for the Mountaineers, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out six and walking one in 6.0 innings. Dan Cook had two of Southern Vermont’s five hits, including a double in the sixth inning.
In the second contest Southern Vermont trailed 4-0 after three innings but broke through with two runs in the fourth to cut the deficit in half. Brett Pawlak drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right, and Warrington followed with an RBI single up the middle.
The Mountaineers took its first lead after a five-run sixth inning. Warrington delivered the big blow, hitting a grand slam over the centerfield fence for a 6-4 advantage. Southern Vermont added to the lead later in the frame when Eric Wells scored on a wild pitch.
Mitchell responded with four runs in its half of the sixth to go back ahead. The Mariners tied the game at 7-7 on a bases-loaded single by Perillo that drove in two, and junior John McGarry followed with a single to left to plate the go-ahead run.
Graynor took the hill in the seventh for the Mariners but couldn’t keep the Mountaineers off the board. Warrington picked up his sixth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game once again, and David Northup put Southern Vermont up for good with a double to right-center that scored a pair. Cook finished the rally with an RBI single through the left side to put the Mountaineers up 11-8.
Dave Gage put the Mariners down in order in the seventh to pick up his second save. Corey Briggs earned the victory and didn’t allow a hit in 0.2 innings of work. Starter Ben Naaktgeboren gave up seven runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings in the no decision.
Five Mariners finished with two hits in the game. Perillo went 2-for-3 with four RBI and hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Junior Paul Martinez scored two runs and had two hits, including his team-leading third home run of the season to lead off the first inning.
Freshman Garrett Cornwell got the start on the hill for the Mariners, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Martinez and Graynor each saw action in relief. Graynor took the loss and allowed four runs on three hits in 1.0 inning.
Mitchell and Southern Vermont will wrap up the weekend series with a nine-inning affair on Sunday, April 11 at noon.