Winter Haven, Fla. - Senior Tim Doyle (Milton, MA) pitched 8 solid innings to lead the Suffolk University Rams to a 4-1 victory over Ripon College. Doyle scattered six hits on the day, while striking out four hitters for his first win of the year on the mound.
Suffolk jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when Paul Vittozzi (North Reading, MA) drew a bases loaded walk. Sophomore Mark Annese (Winchester, MA) got the inning started with a double to left field. After Nick Travelyn (Manchester, NH) was hit by a pitch, Rory Gentile (Gloucester, MA) singled to load the bases. Vittozzi then took four balls to force in the run.
Annese knocked in Suffolk's second run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly. Junior Bobby Barrett (Milton, MA) scored after hitting a triple deep into right center. Suffolk would tack on two more runs in the sixth. Barrett would pick up his team-high seventh RBI of the season when he knocked in Rory Gentile with a single. Paul Vittozzi would come around for Suffolk's fourth run of the ball game on an errant throw on a fielder's choice.
Ripon scored their only run on an RBI single by Nate Paul. After John Hendrickson was hit by a pitch by Tim Doyle, Alex Duros singled to put runners on first and second with two out. Paul would single in the run, but the Rams recorded the third out when Rory Gentile threw into third base to catch the trail runner ending the Ripon rally.
Sophomore Steve Healey (Norwood, MA) pitched the ninth inning for his second save of the season. Gentile finished the game reaching base safely in all five plate appearances, going 3-3 with two walks on the day. Barrett and senior Keith Carter each finished the day with two hits for Suffolk.
Suffolk will play again on Wednesday when they take on Ramapo College (NJ) at 3:00 pm.
Suffolk 4, Ripon 1 (Mar 16, 2009 at Winter Haven, FL)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Suffolk............. 010 012 000 - 4 10 1 (3-2)
Ripon............... 000 000 010 - 1 6 4 (0-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Suffolk - Tim Doyle; Steve Healey(9). Ripon - Bob Bruce; Craig Bednarek(6).
Win-Tim Doyle(1-0) Save-Steve Healey(2) Loss-Bob Bruce(0-1) T-2:45 A-85