Trailblazers Swept by Vikings

(Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information)

Salem, Mass. – Salem State took a pair of games, 10-3 and 9-5 from MCLA in a MASCAC baseball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. The Vikings improve to 19-12 and 8-4 in the conference while the Trailblazers slip to 10-14, and 3-9 in the league. 

The games originally scheduled for MCLA were played at the Central Campus Baseball Field at Salem State with the Trailblazers as the home team. The Vikings opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Colton Fontaine worked a one-out walk and Richard Fecteau followed with a wind- blown double to right. Dan Connors plated both with a two-run single and the Vikings led 2-0. 

MCLA evened the score in the bottom of the frame. Mike Sullivan and Nate Alibozek reached base on a walk and hit batter. Rory Slatter then knocked in Sullivan with an RBI groundout to make the score 2-1. Tyler Benoit tied the game with a single up the middle. Ryan Grande added another single that chased Salem State starter Tim Woods. Woods lasted just two thirds of an inning, and allowed two runs on two hits with a walk and HBP. Pete Gonski replaced Woods and ended the threat.

The Vikings scored three runs on just two hits in the second to take a 5-2 lead. Ryan Beliveau led off with a single. After a walk, Fontaine came through with an RBI single, and an error and double steal added two more runs for Salem State. The Vikings kept the pressure on as Teghan Malionek's well placed bunt scored Mike Davis in the third. 

Ryan Grande drew the Trailblazers to within 6-3 with an RBI fielder's choice in the third. Gonski cruised after the first retiring 12-of-15 at one point and allowing just a single run. 

MCLA starter Mike Mancivalano kept Salem State off the scoreboard after the third. However, in the seventh Salem State added some insurance as Fecteau ripped a double to left and scored on a single by Ben Smith. Eamonn Andre relieved Mancivalano and gave up run scoring hits to Davis and Dom Rosado in between a sacrifice fly by Malionek that made the score 10-4. Mancivalano (1-2) took the loss after allowing nine runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts. 

Gonski (2-2) earned the win for the Vikings, going five and a third innings, and allowing a run on three hits with a strikeout. Matt Turmenne pitched a scoreless ninth for Salem State.

In the second game, Davis went 3-for-4, which included a home run as Salem State behind Andrew McLaughlin defeated MCLA 9-5.
Fecteau, who went 2-for-4 started the scoring with a two-run double in the first, Connors singled home Fecteau and the Vikings quickly had a 3-0 lead. Tyler Benoit put MCLA on the board with a two RBI single to put the Trailblazers within a run, 3-2.

Leading 4-2 in the fourth, Davis launched his first home run of the season, a three-run shot, that pushed the Vikings's lead to 7-2. Smith then tripled and came home on a Connors single to make it 8-2 Salem State.

The Trailblazers battled back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to pull within 8-5. Rory Slatter led off with a single and Benoit followed with a double to put runners on second and third. After an RBI groundout, Mancivalano singled home another run to make the score 8-4. A single and sacrifice moved Mancivalano to third, who then scored on a wild pitch. McLaughlin gave way to Rafael Tylus in the fifth.

The Vikings added another run in the seventh on an RBI double by Malionek that made the final 9-5. McLauglin improved to 4-0 on the season after allowing five runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Tylus picked up the save, pitching three shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out three.

Robert Jutras took the loss to slide to 1-5. He pitched four innings and gave up eight runs on 10 hits with a strikeout.

Salem State and MCLA are both at home on Saturday with 1:00 PM games as the Vikings take on Fitchburg State while the Trailblazers host Worcester State.