NEW LONDON, Conn. – Friday's doubleheader was the start of a four-game series between the Hawks and Mariners in which both teams took home one victory in New England Collegiate Conference play.
THE BASICS
April 23, 2021
Mariners Sports Complex
Becker Hawks 6-10 (6-4 NECC)
Mitchell Mariners 13-6 (6-2 NECC)
GAME ONE: Mitchell 21 – Becker 4
Mitchell's offense was rolling early in game one as they cruised to a 21-4 win in the opening game of Friday's doubleheader.
After a scoreless first, back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the bottom of the second by Mariners senior Anthony Laureano (Emerson, N.J.) and junior Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) gave Mitchell a 2-0 lead. The Mariners would add two more runs in the inning to lead 4-0.
In the bottom of the third, an RBI single by Laureano and a sacrifice fly by freshman Owen Robbins (Salem, Conn.) gave Mitchell a 6-0 edge.
The Hawks broke up the shutout in the top of the fourth on a sac fly by sophomore Niko Mokanos (Montvale, N.J.), as they trailed 6-1.
A four-run bottom of the fifth and a 10-run bottom of the sixth was plenty of offense for the Mariners in their 21-4 victory.
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For Mitchell, Laureano batted 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Yaworski was 1-for-2 with four runs scored.
For Becker, Mokanos finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Senior Coby Hussey (Claremont, N.H.) and freshman Ethan Perry (Dartmouth, Mass.) both had two doubles.
Winning Pitcher: Ronald Thivierge (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Adam Conanan (0-2)
GAME TWO: Becker 12 – Mitchell 8
The Hawks came through in game two, using early offense to hold off the Mariners comeback and earning a split of Friday's doubleheader.
Another scoreless first inning led the way for a high-scoring second inning, this time with Becker putting the runs up.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by freshmen Anthony Conforti (Peabody, Mass.) and Benjamin Costa (Dartmouth, Mass.).
Later in the inning, a two-run double to left-center field by Hussey increased the lead to 5-0. A Perry RBI single would cap off the top of the second with the Hawks leading 6-0.
Yaworski hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second as the Mariners trailed 6-1, but in the top of the third, the Hawks offense stayed hot, adding five more runs in the inning.
A series of three RBI singles increased the lead to 9-1 while a Perry RBI double added to the lead. The fifth run of the inning came on a passed ball, as the Hawks led 11-1.
Hussey added another run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double, giving the Hawks a 12-3 lead. The Mariners got as close as four with the help of a three-run home run by Laureano in the bottom of the seventh, but the Mariners comeback fell short with a pop out, as the Hawks won 12-8.
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For Becker, Hussey finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored. Conforti was 3-for-4, all singles with two runs scored.
For Mitchell, Yaworski was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Laureano finished 1-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.
Winning Pitcher: Silas Thomas (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Eddie Kaftan (1-1)
