Bates College Baseball falls 3-1 to Bowdoin in NESCAC opener

Recap, photo courtesy of Bates College

WATERVILLE, Maine -- The Bowdoin College Polar Bears scored a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to defeat the Bates baseball team by a score of 3-1 Friday afternoon in the NESCAC opener for both teams played at Colby College. 

After falling behind early, Bates (3-8, 0-1 NESCAC) tied the game in the top of the sixth thanks to a trio of sophomores. Sophomore Pat Beaton (West Newbury, Mass.) reached on an infield single to start the frame. Sophomore Zach Avila (San Francisco, Calif.) bunted him to second and sophomore Jack Arend (Newfields, N.H.) doubled in Beaton to even the score at one. 

Bowdoin starter Max Vogel-Freedman (2-1) got the next two batters out to end the frame. Then the Polar Bears (7-6, 1-0 NESCAC) took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Brandon Lopez led off with a single to left. One out later, Jack Wilhoite smacked a single of his own. Nick Sadler walked to load the bases and Connor Lee's RBI fielder's choice put Bowdoin up 2-1.

The inning ended when Colby Joncas hit a sharp liner to right-center. Senior Connor DiVincenzo (Westwood, Mass.) made a spectacular diving catch to rob Joncas of extra bases. 

Senior captain Connor Russell (Cumberland, Maine) got the start for Bates on Friday and tossed six innings of two-run ball, scattering six hits, walking two and striking out three along the way. Vogel-Freedman earned the win for Bowdoin with six innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits, walking one and striking out five. 

Both teams went to their respective bullpens to begin the seventh inning with Bates down 2-1. Joe Gentile's RBI double gave the Polar Bears an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. 

In the top of the eighth, Bowdoin moved Wilhoite from first base to pitcher. He retired the Bobcats in order in the eighth but Bates threatened in the ninth.

Senior Asher MacDonald (Hillsborough, N.C.) walked to begin the inning. Two outs later, first-year Noah Loughlin (Mililani, Hawaii) delivered a pinch-hit single, advancing first-year pinch runner Rob Matson (West Hartford, Conn.) to third. Wilhoite was able to strike out the next batter, securing his third save of the season. 

DiVincenzo went 2-4 at the plate with a double for Bates. Junior Dan Trulli (Melrose, Mass.) tallied a double as well. Arend's RBI double in the sixth drove in the lone run for Bates. Lopez, Wilhoite and Lee all tallied two hits apiece for Bowdoin. Joncus gave the Polar Bears an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second inning. Sophomore Miles Michaud (Madison, Conn.) gave up one run in one inning out of the bullpen and junior Alex Simon (Windsor, Conn.) tossed a scoreless eighth for Bates.

Bates will look to win the series Saturday when the Bobcats play host in Waterville to Bowdoin in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 12:00 p.m.