Vikings, Rams Split MASCAC Doubleheader

Salem, Mass. – John Mondello (Gloucester, Mass.) allowed just one run in 3.2 innings in relief to earn his first win of the season and Brahiam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass) added a two-run home run as Salem State defeated Framingham State 8-4 in the first game of their scheduled MASCAC doubleheader on Friday at The Central Campus Baseball Field. Anthony Herman (Stratford, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI to lead the Rams  to a split with a 7-5 game two victory. Framingham State is now 9-12 and 2-6 in conference while the Vikings go to 6-7 and 3-3 in the league. The Rams were the home team for both games as the games were originally scheduled to be played at Framingham State.   

Game One

Starters Jimmy Burton and Anthony Panza (Watertown, Mass.) each took a shutout into the fourth inning. Salem State broke through first, scoring two runs on four consecutive hits with two outs to take a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Jake Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) and EJ Field (Gloucester, Mass.). The Rams responded in the bottom of the inning scoring three runs. Herman tied the game with a two-run single to right. Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, Mass.) followed with a base hit to left, giving Framingham State a 3-2 lead. Burton was replaced by Mondello after allowing three unearned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Zach Piroh (Bridgeport, Conn.) regained the lead for the Vikings in the fifth with a two-run double to deep right. Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) then  extended the lead to 5-3 with a single to center. 

Josh Jezouit (Williamstown, Mass.) replaced Panza, the pitcher of record, after the lefty allowed five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) made it 6-2 with a single in the sixth.

Back-to-back hits and a double steal by Herman and Chris Iannetta (Watertown, Mass.) generated another run for the Rams in the sixth, but Ortega iced the game with a two run home run to right in the top of the seventh as the Vikings went on to win 8-4.

Briana, Piroh, Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) and Field all had two hits for the Vikings. Herman finished 2-2 with a run and two RBI for the Rams.

Game Two

A three-run second gave Framingham State the lead off Vikings' starter Nicholas Rector (Mantua, N.J.). An RBI single by JC Espinal (Peabody, Mass.) plated the first run. A double steal and base hit by Mike Ryan (Marlborough, Mass.) gave the Rams a 3-0 lead.

The Vikings answered in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles by Jake Boucher (Cheshire, Mass.) and Piroh drew Salem State to within a run. Briana followed with a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 3-3.

Espinal ripped a triple to left center, scoring Andrew Caulfield (Malden, Mass.) for a 4-3 Rams' lead in the third. Later, Herman extended the lead to 6-3 with an inside-the-park home run off the right center field fence. Jack DeCoste (East Sandwich, Mass.) replaced Scott Nosky (Dedham, Mass.) in the fourth after allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Rector was replaced by Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) after the righty allowed six runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.

Rebello got one back for Salem State in the sixth, with a two-out single to center. An error by the second baseman made the score 6-5 before Kevin Scerra (Marlborough, Mass.) replaced DeCoste with runners on first and second. Scerra worked out of the jam, preserving the one-run lead.  

Framingham State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Ryan Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) added an insurance run with a fielder's choice, before a fly out to right ended the inning.

Meanwhile, Scerra earned his first save of the season, retiring the side in order in the ninth. DeCoste picked up the win, allowing two runs – one earned – on one hit with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.

Espinal went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for Framingham State. Boucher had two hits in two at-bats for the Vikings with a run scored and RBI.