Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn.-All nine Coast Guard starters either scored or drove in a run as the Bears claimed a 10-6 non-conference victory over Mass. Maritime on Wednesday afternoon at Nitchman Field. With the victory Coast Guard improves to 7-12 on the season while Mass. Maritime falls to 6-5 with the loss.
Right fielder Brendan McNeil (1-4, RBI, run) drilled a two-out fastball off Mass. Maritime right-hander Zac Cooney to deep center to plate designated hitter Lukas Laplante (2-3, RBI, two runs) to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the sixth. Laplante had reached earlier in the inning with a leadoff single to left but was unable to advance as Cooney bounced back to get the next two batters and it would look like he would escape the inning unharmed until McNeil's double.
Three consecutive singles by leftfielder Ed Lazowski (2-4, RBI, run), catcher Dan Sabourin (1-4, 2 runs), and second baseman Matt Hanks (2-4, RBI, run) would extend the Bears' lead to 9-6 against the previously unscored upon Cooney. Seemingly rattled, Cooney would then balk on a double steal attempt to allow Coast Guard to push their lead to four at 10-6.
Mass. Maritime struck first in the top of the first inning as left fielder Brendan O'Kane (3-4, 3 RBI, run) led off the game with a single into the hole at short. After a sac bunt by left fielder Everett Walsh (1-4) and a passed ball advanced O'Kane to third a double steal – along with center fielder Bob Lee (0-3, run) – scored the game's first run.
Coast Guard would come roaring back in the bottom half as the first five batters reached via walks to chase Mass. Maritime starter Alex Rozak who was unable to record an out, trailing 2-0. Right-hander Kyle Kennedy came on in relief and first baseman Cory Sonnega (2-3, 2 RBI, run) greeted him with a single to center to chase home shortstop Mark Behne (0-4, run) and third baseman Kyle Wood (0-3, RBI, run) from third and second, respectively.
Righty Sean Barry (1-1) came on in relief in the fifth and was greeted by a double off the base of the left field wall by shortstop Bobby Rosano (1-5, run). After getting a strikeout on the next batter, DH Aidan Desrosiers (2-4, RBI, run) singled through the left side to drive in Rosano and tie the game at 6-6. Barry would earn the win for Coast Guard going two innings and allowing just the one run on four hits and striking out a pair.
Right-handed side-winder Joe Kelly and righty closer Justin Rebholz would combine to work three scoreless innings to close out the game and preserve the 10-6 victory for Coast Guard. Right-hander Andrew Lucak got the start and went two innings without surrendering an earned run before giving way to southpaw Dylan Wright who also worked two innings without giving up an earned run – although a pair of errors in the fourth led the way to four unearned for Mass. Maritime – and exited with a 6-5 lead.
Cooney (4-1) took the loss for the Buccaneers allowing four earned on six hits and striking out three, seeing his streak of 19.1 innings without an earned run to begin the season come to a halt.
Coast Guard will return to action on Friday, April 4th when they host Springfield College in a 3:30 pm NEWMAC contest before travelling to take on the Pride on Saturday, April 5th in a 12:00 pm double-header. Mass. Maritime will be back at it tomorrow, April 3rd when they host Newbury at 3:30 pm.
Head Coach C.C. Grant:
