Nighthawks Sweep Past Baseball

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Newbury (21-15, 11-7)	0	0	0	8	1	0	4	0	3	16	15	5
Becker (15-17, 9-6)	4	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	11	11	4
@ Leicester, Mass. | Rochdale Park

Pitching
Win: Zach Griesche (1-1) - Newbury
Loss: Mike Schoen (2-3) - Becker

Newbury Batting
2B: Michael Dean; Alex Chetelat
3B: Steven Broy
HR: none

Becker Batting
2B: Joe Corey; Todd Tompkins
3B: none
HR: none

full stats

Leicester, Mass. – Newbury College overcame a eight run deficit to defeat Becker College 16-11 in New England Collegiate Conference baseball action this afternoon at rainy Rochdale Park.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Tom Natoli (Suffern, N.Y.) drove in the first two runs with a bases loaded single down the right field line, scoring Joe Corey (Billerica, Mass.) and Todd Tompkins (West Haven, Conn.). Weston Meehan (Thomson, Ga.) scored when Newbury tried to nail Natoli attempting to steal second, but the throw sailed into centerfield. Tony D'Addio (West Haven, Conn.) completed the four run inning for the Hawks when he singled to leftfield, scoring Natoli.

Becker added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning when they plated three more runs. Mike Smith (Warner, N.H.) and Joe Corey started the inning with back to back singles. With runners on the corners, Eric Lajoie (Oakham, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Smith from third base with the Hawks fifth run of the game. Todd Tompkins followed with a double off the left field fence, scoring Joe Corey. Tompkins would eventually score on an RBI ground out by Meehan, putting the Hawks in front 7-0 after two innings.

Becker went up 8-0 in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single to centerfield by Tony D'Addio, scoring Mike Marcello (West Haven, Conn.).

The Nighthawks came alive in the top of the fourth inning when they sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on just five hits. After Newbury loaded the bases, Becker starting pitcher Keon Jenkins (Nashua, N.H.) induced what looked to be a perfect double play ball, but the grounder was misplayed, allowing Corey Keane (Tolland, Conn.) to score from third. The Next batter Matthew Clawson (Tolland, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Joey Herer (Needham, Mass.) to scoring the Nighthawks second run of the game. With the bases still loaded, Patrick Curry (Hamptead, N.H.) drove a 2-1 pitch into centerfield, scoring Daniel Kovner (Hamden, Conn.) and Kyle Schiavone (Wethersfield, Conn.), cutting the Becker lead in Half, 8-4.  Alex Chetelat (Farmington, Conn.) followed with a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring Clawson with the fifth run of the inning. After Becker relief pitcher Joe Spero (Glastonbury, Conn.) got the second out of the inning, Corey Keane singled home Curry and Chetelat, bringing Newbury to within one run at 8-7.  The Nighthawks completed the comeback on an RBI single by Kyle Schiavone, tying the game at 8-8.

The Hawks took a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Todd Tompkins scored from third base on a ground out by Tom Natoli. Once again Newbury tied the game in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alex Chetelat, scoring Michael Dean (Wethersfield, Conn.) from third base.

The Nighthawks took the lead for good in the top of the seventh when they scored four times, taking a 13-9 lead. The Hawks threatened with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, but a three run top of the ninth for Newbury proved to be too much for Becker to overcome.

Junior relief pitcher Zach Griesche (Niskayuna, N.Y.) earned the win after pitching fourth and two-thirds innings, allowing two unearned runs on a pair of hits. The win earns Newbury College their first New England Collegiate Conference playoff appearance. The Nighthawks are now 21-15 overall and 11-7 in league play.

Mike Schoen (Yorktown, N.Y.) took the loss for the Hawks after allowing seven runs on five hits, in three innings of work. The Hawks are now 15-17 overall and 9-6 in the NECC.

Game Note: Becker Senior Joe Corey collected his 161st career hit, tying Joe Deluca for the all-time hits lead at Becker College.