SALEM, Mass. – The Curry College baseball team lost a 9-8 decision to Salem State University on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference play. The win improves the Vikings to 16-17 overall while the Colonels slip to 11-24-1.
Curry took the early 1-0 lead after freshman Jason Leonard (Dedham, Mass.) grounded into a double play with two on in the first. The ground out allowed senior Michael Strizzi (Williamstown, Mass.).
The Colonels added to its lead in the second on a two-run homer by junior Adam Duarte (East Providence, R.I.). The home run also scored sophomore Garrett Fosher (Exeter, N.H.) to send the score to 3-0.
Salem State snagged the lead with a four-run fourth. Senior Brendan Greene (Winchester, Mass.) put the Vikings on the board when he stole home. Freshman Luke Eggers (Duxbury, Mass.) then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate junior Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.). Following a Curry pitching change, junior Pat Fitzgerald (Auburn, Mass.) converted a two-RBI single to center to score senior Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) and senior Zac Duval (Middleton, Mass.) for the 4-3 advantage.
The Vikings then tacked on one in the fifth after they executed a double steal. Junior Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) stole second while Briana crossed home to increase the lead to 5-3.
The Colonels regained the lead in the sixth, scoring three times. Freshman Julian Jaume (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contributed the first run of the frame thanks to a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored sophomore Dylan Ketterer (Plymouth, Mass.). Strizzi then reached on an error by the Salem State second baseman, allowing senior Jhonathan Oliveira (Peabody, Mass.). Senior Tyler Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) closed the inning with a two-out single to left to plate Strizzi.
The lead quickly found its way back in favor of Salem State in the seventh. Briana doubled to the shortstop to score junior K. O'Connor (Lynn, Mass.). Briana later scored in the inning on a wild pitch. Griffin tallied the final run of the frame with a home run to make the score 8-6.
Curry tied the contest in the next frame on a two-RBI single to right field by Fosher. The two-bagger brought around Jenkins and freshman Bryan Mendez (Williamsport, Pa.) to deadlock the game at eight.
The Vikings then scored the game-winning run on a walk-off single by Duval to bring around Briana for the 9-8 final.
Sophomore Matthew Enos (Beverly, Mass.) picked up the victory on the mound, going one inning. Freshman Michael Mulrean (South Easton, Mass.) was credited with the loss, tossing two-thirds of an inning. The right-hander gave up one run on two hits in the setback.
Briana was 3-for-4 with one RBI and four runs scored for Salem State while Duval was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Fosher went 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI for while Ketterer went 2-for-5 with one run scored.
The loss ends the season for Curry. Salem State remains at home to host Worcester State on Friday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m.
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