Baseball Battles Back to Earn Doubleheader Split at Nichols

DUDLEY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene baseball team salvaged a twinbill split Monday afternoon at Nichols. The Lions dropped game one 9-6 before rebounding to capture an 8-1 win in the second tilt.

Eastern Nazarene moves to 8-11 on the season and 2-8 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison reach 5-21 overall and 4-8 in league action.

Rocco Martinelli (Panama City, Panama) returned to lead the visitors with four hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) picked up three base knocks, a pair of RBIs, crossed the plate twice and swiped two bags. Max Pugh (San Diego, Calif.) added two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored while Kurt Picarelli (Montrose, N.Y.) drove in a pair of RBIs, scored once and landed one hit.

The Lions chalked up a run in the top of the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead. After Anthony Berroa (Teaneck, N.J.) raked a two-out double to right, David Manning (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) laced an RBI single to center to plate Berroa.

Nichols responded in the home half of the frame, leveling the score at 1-1. Evan Thompson scored as Shayne McNally reached base safely on a fielder's choice.

The hosts seized a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the second, plating a pair of runs. Brett Franciosi crossed the dish as Jeff Sylvester got on base with a throwing error. Thompson drove in Sylvester from third with a single to centerfield.

Eastern Nazarene regained a one-run edge in the fourth, tallying three runs. Martinelli dashed home as Justin Wagner reached on a fielding error. Picarelli and Justin Wagner both came around to score on a throwing error as Justin Wagner stole second base.

The Lions added a pair of scores in the fifth to widen the gap to 6-3. Martinelli sliced an RBI single to right to plate Manning from second base. Pugh trotted home on a single up the middle off the bat of Picarelli with two outs.

The Bison exploded with six runs in the bottom of the sixth frame to claim a 9-6 lead.

The visitors got a run back in the seventh to cut the deficit to two, 9-7. Martinelli tagged up from third on a sacrifice fly to center by Picarelli.

Frank Fusco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) started the game on the mound for the Lions, going 4.1 innings and striking out one batter. Brandon Wells (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), Doug English (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), Nathan Russell (San Diego, Calif.) and Joey Napolitano (Millerton, N.Y.) all made relief appearances for Eastern Nazarene in the contest.

The Lions broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning of game two, scoring twice to capture a 2-0 edge. With two runners in scoring position, Martinelli landed a single in right field to plate Berroa and Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

The visitors tacked on a pair of run in the fifth to double their lead to 4-0. Justin Wagner scampered home on a wild pitch as Nichols attempted to intentionally walk Berroa. Pat Yee (Lynnfield, Mass.) stole home when the Bison tried to pick off Berroa at first.

Eastern Nazarene picked up two scores in the sixth inning to stretch its advantage to six runs, 6-0. Pugh led off the sixth with a solo home run to center field, his first of the season and fifth of his career. Martinelli rounded third and scored on a base hit to centerfield by Justin Wagner.

The Lions added two runs in the seventh to cushion their lead, 8-0. The visitors loaded the bases with no outs in the inning as Jeremy Wagner, Berroa and Manning all got aboard to start the frame. Pugh plated Jeremy Wagner from third base with a sacrifice fly to center. Berroa capped off the scoring for the away side, crossing the plate as Manning stole second base.

Nichols got on the board in the bottom of the seventh with one run. Scott Iacobucci lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Benjamin Harrow.

Berroa tossed a complete game in the nightcap, pitching seven innings and scattering three hits while fanning two.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene steps out of conference play to take on Rivier in a non-league doubleheader April 15 at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.