Baseball Dominates Sunday Doubleheader at Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Suffolk baseball team knocked 21 hits and tallied 19 runs, while only allowing Norwich to score twice in back-to-back wins over the Cadets Sunday at Garrity Field. The Rams shutout the hosts 10-0 in the opener and took the nightcap by a 9-2 score. 

GAME 1 SUFFOLK 10 NORWICH 0

Kevin Sinatra threw his third complete game of the season and second shutout, giving up four hits and striking out four to improve to 4-0 this season. He received quite a bit of support from his teammates at the plate, as the Rams (22-6, 6-2 GNAC) scattered seven hits and accumulated 10 runs to down Norwich (3-21, 1-5 GNAC) in the series opener, 10-0. 

A pitchers duel consumed the first three innings before Suffolk turned up the volume in the fourth as nine runs came in for the blue-and-gold.  A bunt by Jon Lapolla loaded the bases as Rob Marksreached on an error to lead off and Seth Coiley drew a walk. Jake Frasca's sacrifice fly scored Marks to open up the scoring. The Cadets' second error or the inning loaded the bases and Kyle Farquharson walked Matt Brenner and Sean Cameron in back-to-back at bats to give Suffolk a 3-0 edge. Mike Ortiz took over the mound and faced Greg Speliotis, but the sophomore pinch hitter was no match for the freshman as he rattled off a single to left field to bring in Luke Ronchi. After Brady Chant's walk the plated Brenner, a balk let Cameron stroll into home and move the score to 6-0. In his second at bat of the inning, Marks hit a two RBI single to right field to make it a 8-0 game. Ortiz walked Coiley before Norwich made its second pitching change of the game and inning, respectively, with Chandler Whipple taking over the reigns. Another error by the Cadets' allowed Marks to score, before Ronchi flied out to end the inning with Suffolk up, 9-0. 

The Rams would add their final run in the next inning. The inning began with back-to-back singles by Brenner and Cameron. Two batters later, Chant singled to left while giving Brenner the ability to score and make it a 10-0 game. 

Sinatra and the Rams sat down the Cadets in order in the sixth and seventh, respectively, to secure their 21st win of the season. 

Chant and Marks each produced two RBI for the Rams with Marks and Brenner scoring two runs apiece. Brenner produced a team-high two hits in a 2-for-3 effort the plate. 

GAME 2 SUFFOLK 9 NORWICH 2

Ryan Pordes and Wyatt Stanley pitched a five-hit, two-run gem in the second game Sunday afternoon, as the Rams' offense generated 15 hits and nine runs to sink the Cadets, 9-2. 

Chant and Marks each extended their stellar days at the plate, while Lapolla and Ronchi got in on the action. Marks was perfect, 3-for-3, drove in two runs and scored once. Chant was nearly unstoppable at the dish, ripping three hits and scored three times. Lapolla also went 3-for-4, had two RBI and one run, while Ronchi put together a 2-for-4 effort with one run. 

Suffolk raced out of the gates, registering four runs in the first two innings. Chant opened the hitting in the first at bat of the closer and moved around to third on a Marks' single and a connection by Speliotis, which grounded out double play. Chant broke open the scoring on a Lapolla single to third base, but the Cadets were able to limit the damage, stranding one Ram when Frasca grounded out second baseman Drew Caldwell. 

The Rams came right back in the second with three more runs to extend their lead to 4-0. Alec Costanza knocked in the first run of the inning with a single to third, plating Ronchi, who singled earlier in the inning and worked his way around to third with a steal and Brenner ground out. A two RBI double to right field by Marks scored Chant and Cameron to bring Suffolk's lead to 4-0. 

Suffolk went quiet for two stanzas before adding two more in the top of the fifth. Lapolla led off with a single to center field, sniped second and two wild pitches later the senior captain came home. A sac fly by Costanza, his second RBI of the game, brought in Frasca, who got on base with a walk. 

Norwich drove in its two runs of the day in the bottom half of the inning. Kevin Lynch and Mike Lesco were credited with the RBIs, but Suffolk's scoring continued in the sixth. Chant, who walked and stole second and third to get in scoring position, came home on a  Kevin Belskie ground out, before Lapolla's single to center brought in Marks to move the score to 9-2. 

Suffolk returns to the diamond tomorrow as it steps out of conference play for a midday Patriots' Day game against Babson at 12 p.m.