LEICESTER, Mass. –  The Hawks long-awaited return to New England Collegiate Conference action resulted in a Saturday sweep against Lesley University.

THE BASICS

April 10, 2021

Rochdale Park

Becker Hawks 2-6 (2-0 NECC)

Lesley Lynx 1-5 (1-5 NECC)

GAME ONE: Becker 10 – Lesley 6

In the first game of the afternoon, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, scoring three times, all with two outs. The Hawks took advantage of walks, passed balls, and wild pitches to go ahead 3-0 through one inning.

The first RBI for the Hawks came in the second inning via a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Ethan Perry (Dartmouth, Mass.). The sac fly scored freshman Silas Thomas (Sequim, Wash.) and gave Becker a 4-0 lead.

The Lynx broke up the shut out in the top of the third, but the Hawks responded in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI double by senior Jose Martinez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico). Martinez would later score by beating out a throw to the plate, a score that would give the Hawks a 6-1 edge.

Further insurance was added in the bottom of the fifth on the first career home run by senior Kevin Santiago (New Bedford, Mass.). With runners on the corners and one out, Santiago hit a three-run home run to left field, opening up the lead to 9-1.

The Lynx gathered some momentum in the top of the sixth, scoring four times to cut the deficit to 9-5. An RBI single by freshman Christian Reposa, a two-run triple by senior Christopher Papallo (Southbury, Conn.), and a sac fly by freshman Tyler Washington, got Lesley within four.

After the Hawks scored once in the bottom of the sixth to lead 10-5, the Lynx scored one final time in the top of the seventh as their attempted come back came up short.

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For Becker, Santiago batted 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Martinez went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

For Lesley, Papallo went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Senior Michael Fiorelli (Rutland, Mass.) finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the seventh.

Winning Pitcher: Tevon Johnson (1-2)

Losing Pitcher: Steven DePalma (1-1)

GAME TWO: Becker 8 – Lesley 3

It was Lesley that jumped out to the quick lead in game two, scoring all three of their runs in the top of the first. Despite the quick 3-0 lead, the Hawks managed to keep the offense rolling, completing the Saturday sweep.

With runners on the corners in the top of the first, an RBI single by DePalma got the Lynx on the board with a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, a Hawks error allowed two more runs across for Lesley, who led 3-0.

That lead was short-lived as an RBI double in the bottom of the first by Perry cut the deficit to 3-1. Into the bottom of the second, a sac fly by sophomore Niko Mokanos (Montvale, N.J.) and RBI double by senior Mel Gonzalez (Worcester, Mass.) tied the game 3-3.

Later in the second, the Hawks took the lead for good with the help of an RBI single by Santiago, giving Becker a 4-3 edge.

Mokanos would continue to supply RBI for the Hawks with a single in the third and another sac fly in the fifth, plays that would give Becker a 6-3 lead.

More insurance came in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by senior Coby Hussey (Claremont, N.H.) and RBI double by senior Noah Rivera (New Bedford, Mass.), as the advantage increased to 8-3.

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For Becker, Mokanos batted 1-for-1 with three RBI, including two sacrifice flies and an RBI single. Martinez finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Santiago went 2-for-4.

For Lesley, DePalma finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Grad student Giovanni Torres batted 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Winning Pitcher: Russell Dunlap (1-2)

Losing Pitcher: Brett Dabrowski (0-1)