Baseball drops series opener to Salem State

Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information

SALEM, Mass. -- Pitcher Jack Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) went seven innings, allowing just one run, while Tim Catalano (Brewster, Mass.) and Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) added three hits apiece, as Salem State cruised to a 13-1 victory over MCLA on Friday in the first game of their three-game Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) series at The Central Campus Baseball Field. The Vikings improve to 19-17 and 9-10 in the conference. The Trailblazers slide to 11-25 and 2-19 in the MASCAC.

Sefrino, who gave up seven hits, allowed just four base hits after the second inning while recording five strikeouts to earn the win.

Jayco Pena (Salem, Mass.) gave MCLA a 1-0 lead in the second, scoring Ty Mazzeo (Averill Park, N.Y.) with the game's first run. A Wilbur Rosario Morel(Lynn, Mass.) double tied the game in the bottom of the inning before an RBI groundout by Brahiam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass.) put Salem State on top 2-1.

The Vikings broke open the game with three runs in the fourth as a wild pitch and two stolen bases led to a 5-1 lead. Zach Piroh's (Stratford, Conn.) MASCAC-leading ninth home run – a two-run-shot – sparked an eight-run eighth inning as the Vikings put the game out of reach. Piroh batted again in the inning, producing his third RBI with a single as Salem State went on top 13-1.

Bryan Rosario (Elmhurst, N.Y.) started for the Trailblazers, allowing four earned runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Rob Correia (Waterbury, Conn.) replaced Rosario in the seventh and was charged with eight runs – five earned with two walks in 1.2 innings. Carl Beatrice (Wilmington, Mass.) and Jellison combined for 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Vikings.

Mazzeo and Pena each finished 3-for-4 for MCLA.