Baseball: Salem State Rallies In Ninth To Top Eagles, 7-6
Salem, MA— Salem State's Ryan Beliveau delivered a game-winning sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the ninth as the Vikings rallied for three runs to secure a 7-6 win over the Daniel Webster Eagles on Thursday afternoon. The win improves Salem State's record to 28-9-1 while Daniel Webster slides to 17-17.
The Vikings trailed 6-4 entering the bottom frame before scoring three times to earn the comeback win. Rich Lizotte (W. Warwick, RI) came on to pitch the final inning for Daniel Webster and immediately got into trouble after surrendering a lead-off error and walk. Chris Cocci (Wakefield, RI) followed with a bunt single to load the bases, and Bill Cataldo (Reading, MA) followed with a groundout RBI to second base. Following a passed ball to score another run, Salem State continued playing play small ball as Beliveau executed a perfect bunt to score Cocci from third and hand the Vikings their 14th home win of the season.
In the 2nd inning, Salem State's Ethan Trowt (Beverly, MA) scored the first run of the game when he hit an RBI-single to left field. Daniel Webster's Joe Morin (Pelham, NH) and Erick Bordeau (Alton Bay, NH) put the Eagles up in the in the 4th with RBI's to give the Eagles a one-run lead.
The Vikings' Andrew Guido (Peabody, MA) entered in relief in the fifth inning for starter Ryan Sharpe, who lasted four innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout.
The Eagles tied things up in the 6th when John Chasse (Haverill, MA) hit a single to bring a run home. Salem State's Trowt roped a single up the middle to break the tie in the 6th as Kiernan Koch (New City, NY) came on to replace Daniel Webster's starting pitcher Zach Hurley (Hudson, NH), who went 5.2 innings for the Eagles, allowing four runs on seven hits with a strikeout.
Tyler Bonin (Litchfield, NH) blasted two run double in the 7th to tie the game at 5-5 as Guido finished the inning after allowing three runs, just one earned, on six hits .
Mario Padovani (Lynnfield, MA) started the 8th inning for Salem State, and the Eagles scored a run on a wild pitch to take a 6-4 lead. Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, MA) pitched a scoreless 9th for the Vikings to earn the win while Lizotte took the loss.
Trowt went 4-for-4 for the Vikings with two RBI's while Darrik Marstaller (Spofford, NH) and Kyle Brigham (Hudson, NH) had two hits and two runs scored for the Eagles.
Salem State plays a doubleheader on Saturday that begins at 1:00PM at conference foe Bridgewater State. Daniel Webster also has a doubleheader on Saturday, at home against Elms College. First pitch is at 12:00PM.
