LEICESTER, Mass. – The Hawks suffered a pair of two-run losses on Saturday afternoon to Mitchell as the Mariners claim three wins in the four-game series.

THE BASICS

April 24, 2021

Rochdale Park

Becker Hawks 6-12 (6-6 NECC)

Elms Blazers 15-7 (8-2 NECC)

GAME ONE: Mitchell 3 – Becker 1

All the scoring in game one came in the third inning as a pitching battle between the Hawks and Mariners dominated the rest of the game.

In the top of the third, the Mariners had two runners on with senior Jeremy Sagan (Montville, Conn.) stepping to the plate.

Sagan found the gap in right-center field, scoring a pair for the Mariners, as they took a 2-0 lead. Sagan would later score thanks to a passed ball, giving Mitchell a 3-0 advantage.

The Hawks run would come on a fielder's choice with senior Coby Hussey (Claremont, N.H.) scoring from second base on the play, cutting the deficit to 3-1, a score that would hold for the rest of the game.

The Hawks had chances in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, loading the bases in both innings but a strikeout and groundout in the sixth and a groundout in the seventh ended the threats, as the Mariners held on for the 3-1 win.

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For Mitchell, Sagan finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior Jakari Pellegrini (New Britain, Conn.) went 2-for-3.

For Becker, freshman Anthony Conforti (Peabody, Mass.) was 2-for-3, both singles. Junior Bryan Mendez (Ocala, Fla.) went 2-for-4.

Winning Pitcher: Camren Varney (2-0)

Losing Pitcher: Tevon Johnson (1-4)

Save: Kenny Heon (1)

GAME TWO: Mitchell 10 – Becker 8

A 4-4 game after five innings turned quickly in favor of the Mariners after they posted a five-run top of the sixth to sweep Saturday's doubleheader against Becker.

The Mariners started the scoring with runners on the corners and one out and senior Anthony Diaz (Holyoke, Mass.) at the plate. Diaz found the left-center field gap, scoring both runners to give Mitchell a 7-5 lead.

Later in the inning, an RBI double by senior Steve Cochrane (East Haven, Conn.) and an RBI single by senior Michael Santiago (Wethersfield, Conn.) added to the Mitchell lead. A sacrifice fly would eventually cap off the scoring in the top of the sixth as Mitchell led 9-4.

The Hawks trailed 10-4 in the bottom of the seventh and gave their best effort in a comeback before ultimately falling short.

Junior Andrew Bumpus (Carver, Mass.) started the near comeback with an RBI double to center field. Later in the inning, back-to-back RBI singles by freshmen Silas Thomas (Sequim, Wash.) and Drew Winch (Kaplan, La.) cut the deficit to 10-7.

Hussey would provide an RBI double to cut the deficit to 10-8 but with runners on second and third and two outs, a fly out to right field by Conforti ended the game with the Mariners squeaking out a two-run win.

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For Mitchell, Cochrane finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Junior Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

For Becker, Hussey finished 3-for-5, with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Bumpus was 2-for-4, both doubles. Sophomore Niko Mokanos (Montvale, N.J.) went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Winning Pitcher: Jakari Pellegrini (4-3)

Losing Pitcher: Joey Rego (1-2)

Save: Bryce Bedard (2)