Baseball Splits High-Scoring Doubleheader with Fisher Saturday

WEYMOUTH, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College baseball team bounced back from a 13-7 setback in game one to prevail 12-6 in game two of a non-conference twinbill against Fisher Saturday afternoon at Libby Field.

The Lions progress to 6-5 on the spring with the results while the Falcons move to 19-4 overall.

Steven Pesce (Harrison, N.Y.) posted four hits, three RBIs, three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases on the day. Francis Ferguson (Jefferson, Mass.) collected three base hits, scored five runs, drove in two RBIs, and stole a base. Shane McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.) finished with three hits, three runs, and two RBIs. Jaime Roldan (Boston, Mass.) added three hits while Cam Barry (Manchester, Conn.) drove in three RBIs.

In the opening contest, the two teams combined for 27 hits as Fisher scored 11 unanswered runs en route to a 13-7 win.

The home team exploded for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ferguson launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to score Max Miednik (Parkland, Fla.). Jamie Carey (Amherst, Mass.) and Joshua Bombard (Rutland, Mass.) drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to knock in McNamara and Pesce.

The visitors plated runs in the third and fourth innings to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Eastern Nazarene tallied three runs in the bottom of the fourth to widen the gap to 7-2. Pesce laced a one-out single to drive in Ferguson. Pesce crossed the dish on a balk before Roldan scampered home on a wild pitch.

Fisher pulled to within a run, 7-6, with four scores in the sixth inning. The Falcons seized a one-run edge with a pair of runs in the eighth before stretching their lead to 13-7 with five runs in the ninth.

Ferguson tossed 7.2 innings in his team-leading fourth start of the season on the hill and recorded four strikeouts. Brenndan Rogers (Hanson, Mass.) worked one inning of relief and fanned one batter in his fourth appearance of the spring. Rookie Jordy Vazquez (Stamford, Conn.) made his collegiate debut with one-third of an inning out of the bullpen.

In the series finale, Carey hurled a complete game on the mound and Cliff Guerrero (Boston, Mass.) launched a pair of homers to propel Eastern Nazarene to a 12-6 victory.

Fisher started the contest with a four-run frame in the top of the first inning.

The Lions responded with five runs in the bottom of the first to claim a 5-4 lead. Hunter Leroux-Porter (Greenland, N.H.) smacked a two-out, two-run base hit to score Miednik and Ferguson. Barry collected his first collegiate hit with a bases-loaded triple to drive in Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.), Leroux-Porter, and McNamara.

Eastern Nazarene tacked on two runs to widen the margin to 7-4. McNamara roped a double to knock in Miednik and Ferguson.

The Falcons cut the deficit to 7-5 with one run in the third before the Lions answered with a run in the home half of the third as Cliff Guerrero belted his first home run of the season to restore the lead to three runs, 8-5.

The hosts added a pair of runs in the fourth to extend its advantage to 10-5. Pesce doubled to plate McNamara before Roldan raked a single to score Pesce from third base.

The visitors chalked up one run in the fifth to trim the gap to 10-6.

Eastern Nazarene scored once in the bottom of the fifth to push its lead to 11-6. Pesce landed his second RBI base knock of the game to drive in Ferguson.

The Lions capped off the scoring with a run in the sixth inning as Clifford Guerrero crushed his second solo homer of the contest.

On the bump, Carey pitched his second complete game of the year and racked up eight strikeouts in his second start.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene treks to St. Joseph's (Maine) for a non-league clash March 30.