NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – With two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, Southern Vermont College overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Mass. College of Liberal Arts 5-3 Thursday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Zavattaro Complex.
SVC improves to 14-17 on the season while the Trailblazers fall to 3-21.
Mountaineer junior first baseman Cody LaBadia (Howes Cave, N.Y.) went 2-3 with two walks, a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI. Junior captain Chris Nicastro Jr. (Kenilworth, N.J.) was 2-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases, and sophomore second baseman RJ Pingitore (Amsterdam, N.Y.) had a 2-5 showing at the plate, stealing two bases and scoring two runs in the win.
Nicastro's two hits put him at 101 for his career, becoming the second Mountaineer to reach the milestone this season.
SVC junior right-hander Dustyn Marfyak (Torrington, Conn.) continues to be impressive from the mound, picking up the win for his third in as many starts as he moves to 3-2 on the season. He struck out four on the afternoon.
MCLA junior right fielder Chase Preite (North Adams, Mass.) went 3-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in the win, and freshman second baseman Myles Candelet (Pittsfield, Mass.) was 3-3 with a run scored. Freshman left fielder Ryan Ouimet (Clarksburg, Mass.) added a 1-3 showing with a run scored and another batted in.
Senior left-hander Jared Gersch (Highland, N.Y.) had a strong start for the Trailblazers, giving up just two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks. Freshman reliever Eamonn Andre (Fairhaven, Mass.) suffered the loss (1-2) after giving up the go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth, both unearned.
Each team was able to work runners to second base in the first inning, but neither could score them as the Trailblazers used a pick-off to get out of the top, and SVC junior center fielder Sal Sciara (Massapequa, N.Y.) then made a run-saving fully-extended diving catch while charging in for the final out of the frame.
After making quick work of the Mountaineers in the top of the second, MCLA was able to load the bases with just one out on a pair of singles that sandwiched a hit batter. A fly-out to center wasn't deep enough for junior Mike Sullivan (Wareham, Mass.) to test Sciara's arm, and Marfyak then induced the inning-ending ground-out to short to close out the box.
The Trailblazers again made quick work of SVC in the third, putting down the side with help from a throw-out at second by junior catcher Along Willing (Altamont, N.Y.). The hosts then put themselves on the board on a double blasted to left center off the bat of Preite that allowed Ouimet to motor around from first and score. The Mountaineers made a huge defensive play to get themselves out of the jam; a grounder back to the mound was stabbed by Marfyak who turned to see Preite midway to third. The SVC pitcher threw over to sophomore third baseman Richard Rios (Pico Rivera, Calif.) who then sprinted toward the MCLA runner. While Preite was trying to get in the rundown long enough for freshman Garrett Alibozek (Adams, Mass.) to make it to second, Rios' speed was too much as he applied the tag for the first out and then ran across the diamond's infield at the runner retreating to first; Rios made the flip to LaBadia who made the tag that cleared the bases and ended the threat.
SVC saw a good chance to score its first runs of the contest in the fourth as all bases were occupied by Mountaineers, but Gersch got a check-swing pop-out to second to escape unscathed. MCLA added its second run in the bottom of the inning with a pair of hits and a Southern Vt. fielding error. Junior Rory Slattery (Pittsfield, Mass.) got on with a hit to third and moved up to second on the mishap, and he then promptly scored when Alibozek sent one back up the middle, just out of the reach of a diving Pingitore.
Sciara was able to steal second in the top of the fifth to get into scoring position for the Mountaineers, but with two outs already on the board he wouldn't move any further as Gersch again got an SVC batter to pop-out to the infield for the third.
The score remained 2-0 through the bottom of the fifth as Marfyak retired the side in order. His offense came up to bat and was able to get itself in position to score, working runners onto first and second with nobody out. After an MCLA pitching change, junior right fielder Roland Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) smacked a rope out to center to load the bases, the ball being hit too hard for Pingitore to score from second. He wouldn't stay at third for long, however, as sophomore Ryan Schuette (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) drove a ball to deep right for a sacrifice fly that made it 2-1. An ensuing ground-ball to short had the potential to end the inning, but the throw to first after the out was made at second soared to the fence, making way for LaBadia to trot home with the tying-run.
The Trailblazers again went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, allowing the Mountaineers to come back to the plate and take the lead. Nicastro made his way on via a fielding error by MCLA, and he then stole second to get into scoring position. LaBadia cranked one to the wall in right center for a two-out, run-scoring double. He then scored on another Blazer miscue, making it 4-2 in favor of SVC.
MCLA trimmed the lead in the bottom of the inning after putting runners at the corners with no outs. A strikeout preceded a Ouimet sacrifice fly to center that scored Candelet, cutting it to a 4-3 Blazer deficit. With two down and runners at first and second, Alibozek hit a frozen rope to center; Sciara fielded it off the hop and fired towards home as LaBadia moved over to make the cut at the mound. The left-handed first baseman spun all the way around to his left side, but the throw to freshman catcher Nathan Cahoone (Westerly, R.I.) was still in time to retire the runner, putting out the fire and preserving the Mountaineer lead.
SVC made some noise in the top of the eighth, working runners to the corners. MCLA was able to keep Southern Vt. off the board, however, and sent the game to the bottom of the frame with the visitors still up 4-3. Marfyak worked his third one-two-three inning of the game to get quickly back into the dugout, still in line for the win.
The Mountaineers added a piece of insurance in the top of the ninth with a pinch-hit sac fly to center off the bat of freshman Dylan Angelo (Ft. Johnson, N.Y.) that scored Pingitore to put SVC ahead 5-3. That would be plenty of breathing room for SVC closing sophomore Erik Johansen (Rosendale, N.Y.) as he wrapped up the game with a one-two-three inning to grab his fourth save of the year.
Southern Vt. looks to its final New England Collegiate Conference series taking place this weekend, starting with a scheduled doubleheader at Elms College on Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The Trailblazers host Bridgewater State University Saturday for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference twin-bill beginning at 1 p.m.