WENHAM, Mass. – Late rallies by hosting Gordon College led to a pair of losses for the Southern Vermont College baseball team Thursday afternoon at J. Tec White Field. The Fighting Scots took Game 1 with a score of 8-7 and then won Game 2 with a 10-7 edge.
While originally scheduled as a single nine-inning game on Tuesday, a game-day decision saw the makeup date serve for a doubleheader.
Game 1 –Gordon 8, SVC 7
Gordon was the first to break onto the scoreboard in the first game behind RBI doubles from freshman Eric Rinaldi (Torrington, Conn.) and senior Brian Harrington (Shoreham, N.Y.) for the 2-0 lead after one inning of play. The Mountaineers responded immediately with seven runs in the next two frames off RBIs from sophomore Sal Sciara (Massapequa, N.Y.), freshman RJ Pingitore (Amsterdam, N.Y.), sophomore Cody LaBadia (Howes Caves, N.Y.), senior captain Dave Northup (Richmond, R.I.), and sophomore Chris Nicastro (Cranford, N.J.) to leave the Scots at a 7-2 deficit.
From there, however, Gordon took charge at the plate while keeping Southern Vermont silent as sophomore Carlos Pichardo (La Romana, Dominican Republic) sac flied to left in the fourth to plate senior Ben Davidson (Sterling, Mass.); Rinaldi and Harrington crossed home on an error and a fielder's choice in the fifth. Pichardo then went yard in the sixth for a single RBI, and Davidson and senior Stephen Crawford (Haddon Heights, N.J.) ripped RBI singles to help the Scots edge their guests, 8-7.
Gordon sophomore right-hander Wesley Arning (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) picked up his first win of the season (1-0) from the bullpen, and Pingitore took the loss (0-1).
Mountaineer sophomore Roland Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) went 2-4 while senior catcher Corey D. Briggs (Wood River, R.I.) turned two walks into two runs. Pingitore knocked in two runs despite going 0-3; he also scored a run and was hit by a pitch. Sophomore left fielder Jared Hayen (Esperance, N.Y.) was 1-2 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly, and LaBadia went 1-4 with a run batted in and another scored.
Game 2 – Gordon 10, SVC 7
Looking to rebound from the game one loss, Southern Vermont got the bats going for seven runs in the first two innings of the day-cap with Pingitore, Sciara, Northup, Hernandez, and freshman Adam Michaud (East Hampton, Conn.) all picking up RBIs to put the Scots down 7-2 heading into the third. Once again, however, the Scots' pitching and defense came through in the clutch while the offense came through at the plate for a trio of runs in the third and an impressive five runs in the fourth to seal the Mountaineers' fate and secure the non-league sweep.
Harrington went 2-4 with three RBIs to lead the Scots' game-two win while Rinaldi and freshman Eric Walker (Danvers, Mass.) recorded two apiece. Davidson, Pichardo, freshman Alex Potocki (New Fairfield, Conn.), and freshman Cody Davey (Plymouth, Mass.) booked one each.
Gordon senior righty John Kanas (East Moriches, N.Y.) picked up the win (2-0) as Harrington came in to close the game and record his third save of the season. Southern Vermont left-handed sophomore reliever Sean McKay (Mystic, Conn.) took the loss (0-1).
Sciara was 1-3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI, and Pingitore went 2-2, also scoring two runs and batting in another. Hernandez had his third-straight multi-hit game with a 2-3 performance at the plate; he had three runs batted in to go along with a walk. Michaud was 2-4, picking up his first collegiate hits while knocking in one run.
The Mountaineers fall to 5-8 on the season while GC improves to 9-4.
Southern Vermont is back on the road Friday as it visits Newbury College to begin the New England Collegiate Conference season with a 6:30 p.m. game; the Mountaineers finish the season series Saturday with a doubleheader at NC. Gordon next plays a doubleheader on Monday (2/4:30 p.m.) as the Fighting Scots start The Commonwealth Coast Conference action at home against Curry College.