Worcester, Mass. (April 15) -- After getting out to a quick 2-0 lead, the Assumption College baseball team (8-18, 4-5 NE-10) ultimately fell to Saint Anselm (10-16, 4-6 NE-10) on Wednesday afternoon by a final score of 8-5, following a six-run fifth inning for the Hawks. Sophomore Mike Coggeshall (Shrewsbury, Mass. / Shrewsbury) blasted an RBI triple down the right-field line in the bottom of the ninth during the Hounds' near comeback.

In the bottom of the first inning, junior Michael Panza (West Haven, Conn. / Notre Dame) led off with a single up the middle and stole second to land in scoring position. With two outs, senior Greg O'Donnell (Northbridge, Mass. / Northbridge) smacked a two-out double to right center to score Panza for an early 1-0 lead. 

The Hounds increased the lead in the bottom of the second when designated hitter Kelvin Sims (Manchester, Conn. / East Catholic) led off with a walk. Following two-straight fly outs, sophomore Matt Murphy (Wakefield, R.I. / Bishop Hendricken) reached on a shortstop error to make it two on with two outs. Panza stepped to the plate to send a single to right field, driving in Sims for a 2-0 advantage.

Assumption threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases on a Ben O'Donnell (Northbridge, Mass. / Northbridge) single, a through-the-legs error on the Hawk third-baseman and an intentional walk of Coggeshall. Hawk pitcher Joseph Levasseur retired Greg O'Donnell to close the frame.

After Greyhound starting pitcher Steve Flynn (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter-Marian) held the Hawks scoreless throughout four innings, Saint Anselm got on the board and broke the game open in the top of the fifth, notching six runs on five hits, including back-to-back doubles, to take a 6-2 lead.

Freshman Kyle Chudoba (Oxford, Conn. / Oxford) came in relief in the top of the sixth, followed by sophomore Nick Fennuccio (Keene, N.H. / Keene) in the top of the eighth to hold the Hawks at six for three-straight innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Hounds narrowed the gap to three, scoring pinch runner Jordan Roper (Lynnfield, Mass. / Lynnfield) on a balk. Roper was navigating the bases for Murphy, who had singled to right to reach base, 6-3.

In the top of the ninth, the Hawks added two more on a one-out sacrifice fly and a two-out single up the middle to extend their lead to five, 8-3.

Assumption nearly made a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. junior Tom Paine (Upton, Mass. / Nipmuc) led off with a single to shortstop before Coggeshall blasted a triple to the right corner to score Paine and reduce the deficit to four, 8-4.

With two outs, Coggeshall was plated from third on a balk before pinch hitter Andrew Jaehnig (Quincy, Mass. / Boston College) walked, followed by a single from junior Colin Clancy (Chelmsford, Mass. / Chelmsford).

With two on base and two outs, the Hawks made a pitcher change, subbing in Cameron Latta to face the potential tying run, Ben O'Donnell.

Latta retired O'Donnell at the plate for the 8-5 final.

Coggeshall, Murphy and Panza led the Greyhound offense with two hits apiece.

On the Mound, Flynn (2-4) takes the loss for the Hounds after allowing six runs on six hits in five innings. Flynn also registered five strikeouts on the day.

For the Hawks, Levasseur (2-1) earns the win. He pitched 7.2 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits while tallying five strikeouts.

The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, April 16, as they travel to Stonehill for a single road contest set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.