NEW LONDON, Conn. - Coast Guard split a tough doubleheader with #6 ranked Salve Regina. Both games were nail biters by final scores of 3-1 in favor of the Bears in game one and 6-5 in favor of the Seahawks in game two. With the split, CGA moves to 12-6 (3-1 NEWMAC) and Salve moves to 18-3 (5-1 NEWMAC).

In game one, Coast Guard got all the offense they would need with one swing of the bat in the 2nd inning. After Carson Cho singled and Parker Madden reached on a dropped third strike, reigning NEWMAC hitter of the week Rick Barkley made Salve pay by hitting an opposite field three run home run to give the Bears a 3-1 lead. That score would hold for the remainder of the game with excellent pitching on both sides. 

Freshman starter Vito Giordano was masterful on the mound, going eight strong innings to earn his second win of the season. The freshman from Scarsdale, NY struck out seven and did not allow an earned run in his effort. Fellow freshman and reigning NEWMAC pitcher of the week Ryan Karman came in for the 9th inning and did not allow any runs or hits to earn his third save of the season. Despite not getting a hit in the 9th, the Seahawks did threaten. After a walk, hit by pitch, and sac bunt, Salve had the tying runs in scoring position with one out. After Karman induced a sky high pop up, third baseman Luke Percifield made the play of the game. Percifield stayed with the pop up and battled a wind that gave fielders fits all day to hang on and make the 2nd out. One pitch later, Ryan Lista caught a fly ball in centerfield to secure the 3-1 victory.

In game two, the Bears gave Salve too many extra chances. CGA left 14 men on base and made two errors in the 6-5 loss. Coast Guard led 1-0 after four innings. In the 5th, Salve's bats woke up. They tied the game on a sac fly and took the lead on a Hunter Yaworski three run home run. The Bears would fight back in the 7th and the 8th to tie the game. John Carroll and Luke Percifield each scored on wild pitches in the 7th and Ryan Lista scored on a Wyatt Duthu single in the 8th. Despite tying the game, CGA could have taken the lead in both innings, leaving the bases loaded in the 7th and two men on in the 8th. 

In the 9th, Salve scratched across two runs in the top of the inning but yet again, Coast Guard fought back. After a Rick Barkley single and hit by pitches by John Tacchini and Drew Basque, the Bears cut the lead to just one on a walk by pinch hitter Ayden Gurevich. After threatening however, Coast Guard yet again left the bases loaded with Salve's pitchers able to retire the next two batters and cling to victory.

The 12-6 Bears will next face Wheaton College at home on Tuesday April 9th at 3:30 PM.