NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – In a thrilled 10-inning game with 17 combined runs, the Dean College baseball team reigned victorious by a final score of 9-8. With the run, the Bulldogs open their season 1-0, while the Falcons dropped to 0-1.
How it Happened:
-Senior captain
Domenic Brazeau (Warwick, R.I.) helped the Bulldog defense record a shutout top half of the first. A forced double-play, along with a strikeout, retired the Falcons in four batters.
-Dean responded strongly in the bottom half.
Bert Maxim (Teaneck, N.J.) boasted a double to left-center field, setting up the first run of the ballgame. Shortly after,
Nick Amendolara (Bayville, N.Y.) brought Maxim home on an RBI double, making it 1-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.
-The Bulldogs closed out the first inning with a 2-0 lead after
Tyler Giambra (Prospect, Conn.) brought in another RBI.
-Dean's offense produced again in the bottom of the second.
Case LaChance (Latham, N.Y.) recorded his first career RBI on a single to center field.
Gavin Goss (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) scored the run. It was now 3-0 Dean after two innings of play.
-Fitchburg State responded in the top half of the fourth. Jason Kelly brought home two runs with a strong single. The Falcons now trailed Dean by just one run.
-In the bottom half of the inning,
Jacob Paschetto (East Longmeadow, Mass.) added much needed insurance for the Bulldogs. Another RBI single brought home Dean's fourth run of the game & gave them a two-run advantage.
-Each side added another run in the fifth inning. Maxwell Riordan allowed the Falcons to score one, while LaChance added his second RBI of the day. It was 5-3 Dean going into the fifth.
-Fitchburg made it a one-run game again in the sixth. Riordan recorded his second RBI of the game, making it 5-4. The Falcons threatened to score again with bases loaded, but reliever
Kiefer Culligan (South Windsor, Conn.) slammed the door.
-Fitchburg kicked off what became a monster seventh inning. The Falcons scored four combined runs on pitchers
Jomar Angel Soto Castro (Easton, Mass.) and
JR Salvadore (Barre, Mass.). Their impressive inning gave them an 8-5 lead.
-However, the Bulldogs rose to the occasion and speedily responded.
Matthew Dutton (Dublin, Ireland) scored on a wild pitch, followed by the third RBI from LaChance.
Colin Favata (Syosset, N.Y.) tied the game on another wild pitch, making it 8-8 going into the eighth inning.
-After a shutout top half by first-year
Ryan Roco (Gilbert, Ariz.), the Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead. However, with a runner on second, LaChance flew out to center field, bringing a tied game into the final frame.
-Roco shut down the Falcons once again, allowing no hits through two innings. This allowed Dean to have the chance to win it in the bottom half. However, the top half of the order was retired, sending the ballgame into extra innings.
-Opening the tenth, Roco returned to the mound for the Bulldogs. The freshman recorded two more K's, giving Dean another chance in the bottom half.
-Amendolara and Giambra started the bottom half but quickly ran into outs. That left pressure on Dutton, who placed a beautiful double in the right-center gap.
-With Dutton on second, Goss stepped up and drew a walk, putting two runners aboard. Favata also walked shortly after, creating a bases loaded situation for LaChance.
-As he did all afternoon, LaChance patiently waited for his opportunity to strike. With a 3-2 count at the plate, LaChance held on to draw the game-clinching walk. His discipline at the plate brought home the winning run and gave Dean the victory, 9-8.
Standouts:
-LaChance (3-4, 4 RBIs, 2 Walks, Run Scored)
-Maxim (3-6, Run Scored)
-Brazeau (4.0 IP, 5H, 2ER, 6K, 3BB)
-Roco (3.0 IP, 0H, 5K, 3BB, Win)
Next Up:
-Tuesday, February 24
th, 3:30PM at Salem State University
For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-1826
BChaves@dean.edu
