KINGSTON, Rhode Island – Christian Homa was 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI to lead the No. 2 Salve Regina University Seahawks to a 13-1 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference baseball game Friday afternoon at the University of Rhode Island's Bill Beck Field.
Playing in their season-opener, the Huskies were tied with the Seahawks through the top of the fourth inning before giving up 11 runs over the bottom half of the fourth and fifth inning. Committing seven fielding errors in the game, the Huskies gave up eight unearned runs in the loss.
Southern Maine collected five hits off of Salve Regina pitchers. Sophomore OF
Mike Anquillare (North Haven, Conn.) drove in the Huskies lone run with an RBI single through the right side. Junior 1B
Kyle Douin (Augusta, Maine/Cony) had a double for USM's lone extra base hit.
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Records:
Southern Maine (0-1) 001 000 000 1-5-7
No. 2 Salve Regina (3-0) 010 470 10x 13-12-0
Pitching Records:
WP: SR, Kyle Carozza (2-0), 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
LP: SM,
Colin McDonald (0-1), 3.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
How It Happened:
- Scoreless after one and a half innings, the Seawhawks put one across the plate on an RBI single to right Tyler Petrosino. Southern Maine tied things up in the top of the third. Graduate student Sam Economy (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) led things off reaching first after being hit by a pitch, and then moved up to scoring position on a sacrifice play from fifth-year Lucas Francis (Lisbon, Maine). With a runner in scoring position, Anquillare picked up the RBI with a single through the Salve defense.
- The nationally-ranked Seahawks broke things open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs. After recording a fly out to start the inning, Husky starter Colin McDonald (Gorham, Maine) loaded the bases on two hit-by-pitch plays, and a walk, before walking another batter for a Seahawk score. Lifted in favor of junior Nate Burnett (Rollinsford, NH/St. Thomas Aquinas), Burnett got the second out of the inning with a force play at home on a strong play from Francis to junior Dylan Firman (Stratham, N.H./Exeter). Homa extended the inning and the Salve lead however connecting on a three-run triple to the gap in left for a 5-1 scoreline. Burnett ended the inning with a fly out.
- After a scoreless top of the fifth, the Seahawks tacked on seven run in the home half of the inning on four hits and four Husky fielding errors. Shane Williams had a three RBI triple to highlight the inning for Salve Regina.
- USM retired in order in the top of the sixth and stranded a runner in the top of the seventh keeping the game at 12-1 in favor of Salve Regina. Husky freshman Trent Drouin (Wales, Maine/Oak Hill), who entered the game in relief of Burnett in the bottom of the sixth pitched a solid two innings. In his collegiate debut, Drouin earned a ground out and a strikeout against his first two batters. Giving up a pair of hits in the sixth, Drouin relied on strong defense to keep the Seahawks off the board in the sixth on a great relay from Economy to Firmin.
- Salve scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Drouin gave up a lead-off single to Hunter Yaworski who then scored on a wild pitch. Drouin settled after the run, and the Husky middle infielders fifth year Jack LeBlond (Lewiston, Maine/Bridgton Academy) and sophomore Peter Keblinsky (Ellsworth, Maine) combined for a double-play to end the seventh,
- Neither team put a runner past second in the final innings for the 13-1 final.
Inside the Box Score
- Junior Dylan Firmin (Stratham, NNH/Exeter) was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Huskies. Sophomore Mike Anquillare (North Haven, Conn.) recorded his first career hit and RBI as a Husky. Junior Kyle Douin (Augusta, Maine/Cony) collected his 26th career double.
- The Huskies left seven runners on base, and struck out seven times.
Up Next:
Southern Maine remains in Rhode Island, and takes on Salve Regina again in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday (11/2:00 PM). The Huskies remain on the road and take on Colby College in their next game on Tuesday, March 4 (4:00 pm), and then face UMaine Farmington on Saturday, March 8 (2:30 pm) at Bowdoin College. The Huskies will be the home team against UMF.
-cac-
