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Caleb Vacchiano at 2B throwing
James Liebowitz
Caleb Vacchiano was 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a home run for four RBI.
19
Winner Southern Me. SOUTHERN 5-1
8
Ripon RIPON 1-9
Winner
Southern Me. SOUTHERN
5-1
19
Final
8
Ripon RIPON
1-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Southern Me. SOUTHERN 3 3 3 3 0 4 1 0 2 19 14 1
Ripon RIPON 0 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 6

W: Calder, Sam (1-0) L: Michael Sheehy (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

Southern Maine Scores Big in 19-8 Win Over Ripon

Vacchiano and HIggins Each with HRs and Four RBI

LAKE MYRTLE, Florida   –  Sophomore Caleb Vacchiano (Cornish, Maine/Sacopee Valley) and junior Carter Higgins (Truro, Nova Scotia/Cobequid Educational Centre) each drove in four runs to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 19-8 win over the Ripon College RedHawks in a high scoring baseball game Monday morning at the RussMatt Invitational. 
 
Vacchianno was 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a home run, while Higgins finished the day 2-for-5 with a double and a home run as part of a 14-hit Husky attack that included nine hits for extra bases. With the win, Southern Maine extends its win-streak to four games, improving its record to 5-1.  The Huskies' second game of the day against No. 6 Salve Regina University was halted in the top of the 6th inning; action may potentially resume tomorrow.
 
Records:
Southern Maine (5-1)                333 305 102    19-14-1                     
Ripon (1-9)                               051 200 000        8-8-6
 
Today's game the second meeting between the Huskies and the Ripon College RedHawks.  With today's win, Southern Maine evens the series at 1-1 and avenges a 9-7 loss to Ripon exactly one year ago today in 2025.  
 
Pitching Records:
WP: SM, Sam Calder (1-0), 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks
LP:  Michael Sheehy (0-1), 3.0 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks
SV: none
 
 
How It Happened:
  • Southern Maine jumped out 3-0 in the first inning and went on to score three runs in each of the first four innings to outpace the RedHawks 12-8.
  • The Huskies had runners on first and third with one out to start the game after the first of six Ripon errors and a the first of two doubles from junior Peter Keblinsky (Ellsworth,Maine). Vacchiano quickly made it 3-0 with a three-run home run to left field for his first home run as a Husky.
  • After a scoreless first inning for the RedHawks, Southern Maine doubled its advantage in the top of the second, generating all of its offense on two outs.  Junior Evan Baschnagel (Garden City, NY/Chaminade) started the rally with a single and he and senior Kyle Douin (Augusta, Maine/Cony) came around to score on Keblinsky's second double of the game for a 5-0 lead.  Vacchiano followed with his triple driving in Keblinsky as USM led 6-0 before the inning ended. 
  • Ripon battled its way back scoring five runs on five hits to trail 6-5.  Trey Page and Nolan Hollander each had RBI singles, while Raidan Shibayama had a two run double to highlight the RedHawk's inning. 
  • Higgins delivered three more runs for the Huskies in the top of the third driving a three-run home run to left field to give Southern Maine a 9-5 cushion.  Junior Quinn Dillon (Gorham, Maine) led off the inning with a single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt before senior Dylan Firmin (Stratham, NH) reached safely on a hit-by-pitch to make it two on with one out to set the table for Higgins. Higgins' three RBI homer was his first of 2026.
  • After Ripon scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third, Southern Maine continued to push runs across the plate in the fourth to take a 12-6 lead. Ripon swapped starter Michael Sheehy for Dallan Lopez, and the Huskies drew three consecutive walks to load the bases. After an infield fly to keep the Huskies' off the board, senior Mike Anquillare (North Haven, Conn) picked up an RBI with a sac fly to center field scoring Keblinsky before the Huskies generated a second run pulling a throwing error out of the Ripon catcher on a stolen base attempt from sophomore Drew Scialdone (Amesbury, Mass.) that resulted in two unearned runs.
  • Ripon pulled to within four runs of the Huskies with a two-run single to left from Crete Slattery.  Bailey Schepp singled to right off of Husky reliever Sam Calder (Monmouth, Maine) who entered the game to start the fourth. After a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt put RedHawks on second and third, Calder got the second out with a strikeout before Slattery's single made it 12-8.  Calder bounced back however getting his second strikeout to end the inning.
  • Following a quiet fifth, Southern Maine blew the game open with four runs in the sixth to lead 16-8.  Dillon had an RBI double to right, and Firmin followed one batter later with a two-run double to center field for a 15-8 Husky advantage.  After a pitching change, Higgins collected his double for an RBI and the eight-run Husky lead. 
  • Calder put the RedHawks down in order in the home half of the sixth and seventh,  and USM grew its lead to 17-8 in the top of the seventh as Anquillare collected another sac fly RBI. 
  • Both teams were scoreless in the eighth.  Ripon threatened for runs in the bottom of eight drawing a pair of walks, but the Huskies' turned a double-play and reliever senior Kyle Skolfield (Gorham, Maine) got the final out on a pop up to move to the ninth. 
  • The Huskies collected two more runs in their final at bat.  Dillon had an RBI single to left, and Anquillare laced a double to right for a 19-8 USM advantage.  In the bottom of the inning, senior Chris Quigley (Halifax, Mass.) closed the door getting three consecutive strikeouts (two looking, one swinging) for the 19-8 final.
 
Up Next:
Southern Maine takes on Ramapo in a doubleheader beginning at 11 am in its next contest.  The Huskies will attempt to complete its contest with Salve Regina following those games. If the game resumes, it will be from the top of the sixth.
 
 
-cac-
 
 
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