Walk-Off Error Sends Baseball Over Rivier, 4-3, in Extras

EAST BOSTON – With the bases loaded and one out, a missed play ball by Rivier's shortstop allowed Suffolk baseball to walk-off with a 4-3 GNAC win in eight innings Sunday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4, Rivier 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (16-15, 10-1 GNAC) | Rivier (5-21, 0-9 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPANED
Rivier got on the scoreboard first after two scoreless innings were broke open by John Basurto's sac fly in the third.  

The Raiders extended their advantage with a two run fifth, before Suffolk came back in the sixth stanza with three runs to level the playing field. After Trevor Lee and Seth Coiley each walked, Rivier made a change on the hill with Lucas Palam coming into deal. Designated hitter Rich Giandrea knocked a bases clearing double to put the Rams on the board. Nik Santoni took Giandrea's spot on the bags and advanced to third on a 43 ground out by Will Hopkins, which brought in Coiley and made it a one-run game. A sac fly by Tim Brigham scored San Antonio and leveled the ball game heading into the seventh.  

Rams' relief pitcher Parker Browne showed composure and got out of bases chucked, two-out jam. The Rams rookie successfully fielded Taylor Black's hit to the mound and made the force play at home to keep the score locked at 3-all.  

In the bottom of the seventh Suffolk was sat down in order to force the extra session.  

Browne fanned the first Rivier batter swinging before Fred Kazalski singled, but the Rams defense successfully turned a 643 double play to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.  

With one out, Suffolk juiced the bags behind a single, Rivier error and a hit-by-pitch. Steve Shamnoski barreled the ball to the left side gap, were the Raiders shortstop John Basurto bobbled the play, which allowed Hopkins, who singled, score the game-winning run.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Browne picked up the victory with 3.1 scoreless innings. The freshman allowed five hits and one walk and sat down a pair of batters in relief effort. 
• Suffolk's starter Tyler Zell gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts through the first 4.2 frames. 
• Tyler Ferdinand suffered the setback for the Raiders after giving up two runs, one earned, off three hits one walk and fanned one hitter in 2.1 innings. 
• Eric Maxfield earned the nod for Rivier and went the first 5.0 frames where he let up two runs on one hit and five walks to go along with a pair of punchouts.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk's offense was limited to just four hits, all by different bats and all by freshman; Giandrea, Hopkins, Cormier and Shamnoski. 
• Giandrea, Hopkins, Brigham and Shamnoski each recorded one RBI, while Coiley Lee, San Antonio and Hopkins all scored one run apiece.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk earned its fourth consecutive win over Rivier to improve to 37-5 all-time versus the Raiders.
• Browne earned his first collegiate victory and matched a personal-best two strikeouts. 

POST-GAME PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk and Rivier clash in the nightcap in Eastie at 4 p.m.