NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Dean College baseball team's season came to a close on Saturday afternoon. The team fell in both their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) pod play contests, first to Mitchell College 7-2, and then to Elms College 11-4.
Despite winning their first contest on Thursday, the Bulldogs have been knocked out via double elimination.
GAME ONE: #1 Mitchell College 7, #4 Dean College 2
The Basics
WINNING PICHER: Ethan Chavez (1-0 postseason)
LOSING PITCHER: Domenic Brazeau (Warwick, R.I.) (0-1 postseason)
TOTAL TIME: 2:05
How it Happened
-Both sides threatened to score in the first inning. In the top half, the Bulldogs loaded the bases.
Luke Fahey (Glastonbury, Conn.) started the party with a double, followed by both
Gavin Goss (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) and
Spencer Lichstrahl (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) reaching on defensive miscues. However, a strikeout ended the side with no runs.
-Brazeau kicked off his start in the bottom of the first and impressed. He eliminated the first two batters, and after a double from Michael Ficocelli, he struck out Chas Terni Jr. to retire the side.
-With another scoreless inning in the second, the Bulldogs found their stride in the third. Fahey continued his momentum with another double down the left field line, putting himself in scoring position.
-After a walk from Goss, Lichstrahl produced an RBI single up the middle that scored Fahey. Dean now led 1-0 going into the bottom half.
-In the subsequent part of the inning, Brazeau worked out of a jam, leaving two runners in scoring position to keep Mitchell off the board.
-Dean struck again in the top half of the fifth. Both Fahey and
Jacob Paschetto (East Longmeadow, Mass.) reached base via single. With runners in scoring position, Goss recorded the RBI to add insurance. The Bulldogs now led 2-0.
-However, the Mariners split the difference in the bottom half of the inning. Ficocelli grabbed the sacrifice flyout that scored Johnny Brucato. Brazeau remained firm to end the inning, but the Mariners showed signs of life.
-Mitchell caught fire in the bottom of the seventh, erupting for five runs to take a 6-2 advantage. The run was highlighted by a two-run home run from Ficocelli, adding extra insurance for the Mariners.
Owen Critchley (Dayton, Maine) also took over in relief of Brazeau.
-Amendolara reached base on an error to open the eighth inning. However, he was left stranded after another quick groundout. In the bottom half, Mitchell continued their run with a score via error. This put them up 7-2 going into the final inning of play.
-The Bulldogs had a chance to start a rally in the ninth but came up short against reliever Ethan Chavez. All three batters were retired, in order, to give Mitchell the 7-2 final victory.
Note: Due to their first game loss, Dean was now scheduled to play #8 Elms College at 3:30PM. The loser of the game would be eliminated from the tournament.
GAME TWO: #8 Elms College 6, #4 Dean College 0 (Elms Serving as Home Team)
The Basics
WINNING PICHER: Sal Ortiz (1-0 postseason)
LOSING PITCHER: O. Critchley (0-1 postseason)
TOTAL TIME: 2:37
How it Happened
-The Blazers catapulted in the bottom of the first inning, putting six runs on the board to take the early. Their early barrage was highlighted by a two-RBI double from Colin Faber.
-Critchley's start quickly came to an end, with
Nick Swain (South Portland, Maine) taking over in relief.
-Dean snagged its first run of the game in the top of the third. In a delayed steal accept, Lichstrahl created a pickle down the second base line. While he was retired, this allowed Fahey to score, cutting the deficit to five (6-1).
-However, Elms snagged two more runs in the bottom half via RBIs from Nason Busca and Eliam Martinez. The Blazers now led 8-1 heading into the fourth.
-The Bulldogs got another run back in the fourth.
Case LaChance (Latham, N.Y.) recorded another sacrifice flyout, bringing home
Colin Favata (Syosset, N.Y.). Dean now trailed by six runs, 8-2.
-Elms got another one back in the bottom half, making it 9-2.
-After a scoreless fifth inning, the Bulldogs threatened to score in the seventh. LaChance reached base via single and advanced onto third after a ball in-play from
Dylan Altermatt (North Branford, Conn.). However, a strikeout left LaChance stranded, keeping the score at 9-2.
-The Blazers tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth. Andrew Ciaglo dropped a bunt down the first base line, successfully reaching base and allowing the run to score. Mitchell grabbed their tenth run of the game to lead 10-2.
-Another run came across via walk, making it 11-2 in favor of Elms. Lichstrahl entered the game in relief, taking over for
Kiefer Culligan (South Windsor, Conn.). With Brycen Diaz at the plate, Lichstrahl drew a flyout to retire the side.
-Dean cut into the lead again during the top of the seventh. Lichstrahl was retired on a ground ball to second base, but the play allowed Paschetto to score, making it 11-3.
-Elms retired the Bulldogs in the top of the eighth, putting them in position to close the game in the bottom half.
The 2026 season has officially concluded for the Dean College baseball team. For more information regarding the 2027 schedule, please stay tuned on deanbulldogs.com.
For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-182
BChaves@dean.edu
