Baseball Splits Dramatic Doubleheader with Salve Regina Monday

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College baseball team orchestrated a come-from-behind, walk-off 2-1 win before falling 6-2 in game two to Salve Regina Monday afternoon at Adams Field.

The Lions progress 15-13 on the season and 2-6 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the split. The Seahawks move 14-9-1 overall and 6-2 in league action with the results.

Colton Rice (Mesa, Ariz.) paced the offense with three hits, two RBIs and one run scored on the day. Zachary Carmody (Babylon, N.Y.) finished with three base knocks while Brandon Wynne (West Haven, Conn.) crossed the dish twice.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene posted a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory to snap Salve Regina's winning-streak at seven.

The guests got on the board in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 edge. Ryan Kelly came around to score on a single up the middle by Zack Smith.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions' first two batters reached base as Rice landed a leadoff single and Anthony Esposito (Mount Royal, N.J.) followed with a walk. Both runners crossed the dish as the home team walked off with a crucial conference win as Kurt Picarelli (Montrose, N.Y.) reached on an error.

In his seventh start of the year, Brent Houle (Westfield, Mass.) went the distance for the third time this season and finished with three strikeouts to earn his fifth win.

Eastern Nazarene absorbed a 6-2 loss to Salve Regina in the nightcap.

The Seahawks plated two runs in the top of the first to establish a 2-0 lead. Tristan Dacey laced a two-out single to right to drive in Smith and Alex Perry.

The Lions cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second inning. Rice flared a base hit into shallow left field to knock in Wynne from third base.

Eastern Nazarene tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Rice delivered his second RBI of the contest with a single up the middle to plate Wynne for the second time.

Salve Regina reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh inning, 6-2, producing four runs. Hunter Sleeper roped a double to left-center to drive in Christian Vargas from third. Kelly lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Sleeper from third base. John Militano dashed home as Perry landed a double in right field.

Fiorentino tossed six innings and recorded five strikeouts in his seventh start of the season. Xavier Faria (Assonet, Mass.) and Ryan Spina (Selden, N.Y.) each made relief pitching apperances.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene steps out of conference play to visit Rivier April 19. The Lions dropped a 9-2 decision to the Raiders earlier this spring.