CARY, N.C. – March 6, 2022 – The Dean College baseball team began its journey to Myrtle Beach with a stop in North Carolina for a Sunday doubleheader against William Peace at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. William Peace earned a 7-6 walk-off victory in game one and earned the sweep with an 11-7 victory in game two.

Dean drops to 0-3 on the season, while William Peace improves to 7-4. The two teams will play again tomorrow with one 9-inning game scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

GAME ONE – William Peace 7, Dean 6

Senior Dan Lilja (Lynn, Mass.) put the Bulldogs on top in their first at-bat with a double to left that scored senior Josh Cerretani (Peabody, Mass.).

William Peace tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by senior Brett Kemp (Wilmington, N.C.).

Dean regained the lead in the third when senior Ryan Gallagher (Methuen, Mass.) knocked in Cerretani on a single to left.

In the top of the fifth, junior Brian Dovidio (Ramsey, N.J.) singled to score Lilja to put Dean in front, 3-1.

The Pacers scored five times on six hits in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Kevin Gonzalez (Forest City, N.C.) had the big knock with a two-run single.

Dean responded to tie the game in the top of the seventh with three runs on three hits and a couple of errors. Sophomore Owen Liscio (Norwalk, Conn.) singled to left to score Dovidio with Dean's fifth run. Then sophomore Kyle Simpson (Prospect, Conn.) was called upon for a pinch-hit appearance and delivered with a single to center to score freshman James Galati (Eastchester, N.Y.) to tie the game at 6-6.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, William Peace senior Jake Norris (Wake Forest, N.C.) singled to center to give the Pacers the walk-off victory, 7-6.

Senior Tyler McAloon (Berkley, Mass.) went the distance for Dean and was saddled with the loss with seven runs on 11 hits.

Junior Hunter Ward (Clayton, N.C.) earned the win after recording one out to get out of a jam in the top of the seventh.

GAME TWO – William Peace 11, Dean 7

Dean took an early lead once again, scoring twice in the first on a sac fly by senior Jesse Rodriguez Jr. (Fontana, Calif.) and a bases loaded walk by senior Kyle Obst (Tewksbury, Mass.).

The game was tied in the third when William Peace scored on a passed ball and a Jake Dacunto (Raleigh, N.C.) RBI single.

In the fourth, the Pacers took a lead after a Gonzalez sac fly and a two-run double by Ward.

Dean tried to put a rally together in the top of the fifth and loaded the bases, but the Pacers escaped any damage with an inning-ending double play.

The William Peace hitters took the momentum and plated six runs in the bottom half to take an 11-2 lead. Senior Patrick Rogan (Norfolk, Va.) hit a triple and scored on a throwing error, while Norris hit a two-run homer to right. Dacunto later knocked in his second run of the game.

The Bulldogs cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth by scoring five runs on just one hit, benefiting from a couple of walks and a couple of batters being hit by pitch. Unfortunately, that would be the end of the scoring as the Pacers hung on for the 11-7 victory.

William Peace junior Logan Flowers (Raleigh, N.C.) earned the win with 4 IP, 2R (0 ER) and 6 H.

Dean senior Ethan Bernardo (Pawtucket, R.I.) took the loss after tossing 4.1 innings. He gave up seven runs, but only three earned.  

Tommy Troy Jr. (Norwalk, Conn.) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored to lead the Dean hitters.

Dacunto finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs.