Assumption 9, Southern New Hampshire 2
Assumption 7, Southern New Hampshire 4
Worcester, Mass. -- After a tough start in Florida, the Assumption Greyhound Baseball team got off to a great start in its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with two wins in a double-header against the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at Rochleau Field. The Hounds won the first game, 9-2, with relative easy. In Game two, Assumption was down 4-0 in the ninth inning when an incredible rally led to a 7-4 victory.
In the first game, Assumption got off to a two run lead in the top of the second inning when Southern New Hampshire, playing as the home team due to field rescheduling, hit three straight Assumption batters, allowing senior outfielder Mike Foley (Worcester, Mass./Saint John's) to score. Junior catcher Tim Quinn (Holden, Mass./Saint John's) then drove in another run with a single to center field, and Assumption was in business.
After senior outfielder Chris O'Neil (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) homered in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1, Assumption scored three runs in the fifth, capped off by an RBI single by junior third baseman Travis Smith (Coventry, R.I./Bishop Hendricken). In the top of the ninth, Assumption junior designated hitter Frank Flynn (Worcester, Mass./Saint Peter-Marian) had a two run homer. Senior pitcher Joe Green (Worcester, Mass./Saint John's) was excellent on the mound for the Greyhounds, pitching eight innings and surrendering only one earned run with five strikeouts.
For much of Game 2, it appeared that the Greyhounds would give that game back. The Penmen took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off an RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Patrick Copp (Cumberland, Maine/Greely). In the third inning, Penmen senior first baseman Robert Wronski (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic/Northeastern) drove in two more runs with a double to left field. When Copp singled in another run in the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead, Southern New Hampshire seemed well in control.
In the top of the ninth inning, Foley lead off with a double to right field. After an Assumption strikeout, Flynn doubled to left, scoring Foley and finally putting Assumption on the board. After two walks loaded the bases, senior pinch hitter Drew Dombkowski (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire) came in and reached on a fielder's choice that scored Flynn, making the score 4-2 with men at second and third with two outs. Two straight walks would score another run, and with two outs and the bases loaded, Assumption's senior center fielder Blake Youngblood (East Freetown, Mass./New Bedford) came to the plate with his team down just 4-3. The game appeared over after Youngblood knocked a slow grounder towards the Penmen's third baseman, but a critical fielding error allowed Youngblood to reach and scored Dombkowski, tying the game. Mike Foley then tripled to right field, clearing the bases and giving Assumption it's first lead of the game, 7-4.
Freshman pitcher Cody Rocha (Fall River, Mass./B.M.C. Durfee) came in for a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth inning, securing the win and earning his first save of his career.
For the day, senior shortstop Shawn Frigon (Worcester, Mass./Saint Peter-Marian) went five of eight at the plate with two walks and an RBI, and also got it done in the field with a team-high ten assists over two games. Frigon had all three of Assumption's hits in Game 2 up until the ninth inning, when the rest of the lineup came alive.
Sophomore pitcher Timothy Flight was dominant for most of Game 2, pitching 8 1/3 innings and giving up only two earned runs with 13 strikeouts.
Assumption's record is now 5-10 with a 2-0 record in the Northeast-10 conference, while Southern New Hampshire falls to 9-10 with an 0-2 conference record. The Greyhounds are in action again on Sunday as they host Adelphi University in a single game at 1:00 PM.
