#14/#15 Southern Maine Falls to Endicott 4-3

Huskies Open LEC Play on Saturday at Rhode Island College

            BEVERLY, Mass. -- The Endicott College Gulls scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull out a 4-3 victory over the #14/#15 ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference game Wednesday afternoon at North Field.

            The Gulls improved to 8-5 overall and snapped a two-game losing skid with the win.  The Huskies dipped to 7-5 overall and have lost three of their last four games.  The teams are scheduled to meet again at USM on April 20.

            Down to their final out in the ninth, the Gulls got a single from senior Cody Hall (Rutland,
Mass./Wachusett Regional) and a catcher's interference call while sophomore pinch hitter Michael Casciano (Somers, Conn.) was batting to put runners at first and second.  Sophomore Michael DeDonato (Chelmsford, Mass.) followed with a single to left field that deliver freshman pinch runner Matt Bald (De Pere, Wis.) with the tying run.

            After an intentional walk to sophomore Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt./Bellows Free Academy) loaded the bases, senior Matthew Paola (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) grounded a ball up the middle, but the Huskies had no play on Paola and could not get the force out at second base as Casciano scored the wining run.

            Southern Maine grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening frame as senior Nick DiBiase (Portland, Maine/Deering) led off the game with a single and classmate Sam Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) doubled to right-center field to bring DiBiase all the way around from first.

            Endicott responded in the third inning scoring twice against USM rookie southpaw hurler Ryan Gaydou (Dartmouth, Mass.) on a groundout and an RBI double from DeDonato.

            The Huskies tied the game in the sixth as junior Paul McDonough (Wells, Maine) led off with a single and scored from first on a one-out double by senior Jake Glauser (Goffstown, N.H.).
            Dexter put the Huskies ahead 3-2 in the seventh when he walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on McDonough's single to center field.  The lead held up until the Gulls' rally in the ninth.

            McDonough was the lone Husky batter with multiple hits going 3 for 5.  Gaydou got a no decision after pitching six strong innings allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four.  Rookie left-hander Matt Correale (Peabody, Mass.) was the tough-luck loser going 2.2 innings.  He allowed two unearned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one.

            DeDonato led the Gulls' 10-hit attack with a double and two singles.  Berno and Hall also had a pair of safeties.  Junior Victor Molle (Peabody, Mass./St. Mary's), the last of four Endicott hurlers, picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

            Southern Maine opens Little East Conference play this Saturday (12:00 p.m.) with a doubleheader at Rhode Island College.  Endicott will play tomorrow (3:30 p.m.) at M.I.T.