Baseball Sweeps Albertus Magnus in Home Conference Doubleheader

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Elms College Baseball team hosted Albertus Magnus College for a conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Mackenzie Stadium.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 10 | Albertus Magnus College 6
Records: Blazers 8-13, 3-3 (GNAC) | Falcons 3-14, 0-7 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 7 | Albertus Magnus College 6
Records: Blazers 9-13, 4-3 (GNAC) | Falcons 3-15, 0-8 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Game 1

Elms would strike early on in the game to take the lead when senior outfielder Camron Watkins (East Haddam, Conn.) would record an RBI single to drive in graduate student infielder AJ Cook (Mendon, Mass.) and when first year infielder/pitcher Brycen Diaz (Andrews, TX) recorded a one-run single to drive in junior pitcher/outfielder Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) to give Elms a 2-0 lead. The Blazers would strike again in the second inning when Watkins recorded a sacrifice fly to score freshman catcher Alex Baeta (Bellingham, Mass.) and Diaz recorded a two-run double to score senior outfielder George Chaya Jr. (Methuon, Mass.) and Busca. Elms received a big boost from senior pitcher Henry Rondon (Ansonia, Conn.) who pitched seven great innings and kept the Falcons from taking the lead. The Blazers would strike again in the third inning when Busca drove in both Baeta and sophomore infielder Griffin Levesque (Agawam, Mass.) and when Watkins recorded his third run of the game to drive in Cook yet again to give Elms an 8-1 lead. Rondon continued to keep the Falcons at bay, and everytime Albertus Magnus would tack a run on the board, Elms was there to respond. In the fifth inning, up 9-4, Busca extended the lead for Elms with a one-run double to drive in Cook, and in the seventh, Cook recorded a one-run double to drive in Levesque to give Elms a 10-5 lead. The Blazers would complete their well played game when sophomore pitcher Jayden Maynard (Enfield, Conn.) recorded the save to give Elms a 10-6 lead in the first game.

Game 2

The Blazers would follow up their strong performance in Game 1 early on in the second leg of the doubleheader, as Busca would record a one-run single in the first and third innings to score Cook and put the Blazers up 2-0. With a slim lead, sophomore pitcher Ryan Ziegler (Uncasville, Conn.) would pitch incredibly, only allowing one run in five and ⅔ innings of work to keep the Blazers in the lead. Up 2-1 in the sixth, Elms added to their lead when sophomore utility player Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) recorded a two-run single to score both Chaya Jr., and Watkins to go up 4-1. Senior catcher Blake Bastos (Mineola, NY) would also record a fielder's choice to drive in Diaz. Bastos would also come all the way around the bases to score along with Levesque off of a hit by Cook, giving Elms a 7-1 lead. The Falcons would put some pressure on Elms, scoring five unanswered runs, but junior pitcher Colby Arnold (Waterford, Conn.) recorded his second save of the year to give Elms a 7-6 win and doubleheader sweep over Albertus Magnus.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Arnold: would earn the save in Game 2 after pitching two and ⅓ innings with three strikeouts.

• Baeta: two for four, with two runs scored.

• Bastos: one for four, with a run scored and a run batted-in.

• Busca: five for eight, with two doubles, a run scored, five runs batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Chaya Jr.: two for seven, with a double, two runs scored, a stolen base, and two walks.

• Ciaglo: one for nine, with two runs batted-in.

• Cook: six for nine, with a double, six runs scored, three runs batted-in, three stolen bases, and a walk.

• Diaz: four for nine, with a double, a run scored, three runs batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Levesque: four for seven, with three runs scored, three stolen bases, and a walk.

• Maynard: would earn the save in Game 1 after pitching two innings with a strikeout.

• Rondon: would earn the win in Game 1 after pitching seven innings with six strikeouts.

• Saad: would pitch an inning.

• Watkins: one for six, with a run scored, three runs batted-in, a stolen base, and a walk.

• Zeigler: would earn the win in Game 2 after pitching five and ⅔ innings, with six strikeouts.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will host Colby-Sawyer College on Sunday, April 6th for a conference game at 3:30 pm at Mackenzie Stadium.

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