WENHAM, Mass. — Curry controlled the narrative from the start of a doubleheader sweep of Gordon on Saturday afternoon at J. Tec White Field. In series with potentially large Commonwealth Coast Conference playoff implications, Curry handed the Scots a 7-0 before staving off a comeback in game two, 9-8.
The two teams came into the day with near identical records, but Curry improved to 5-3 in the CCC and 8-14 overall. Gordon dipped to 6-15 and 2-6 in the league. Gordon will look start a late-season rally beginning on Tuesday at Bridgewater State for a nine-inning affair at 3:30 p.m.
Game One
The Colonels put the Scots in deep trouble in the second inning by capitalizing on a pair of costly errors in the infield. After Matt Fogarty (Millis, Mass.) singled a ball up the middle to score the first run of the game, an error scored a second run in the next at bat.
A potential double play ball set up the Scots to get out the inning down only two runs, but the throw down to second ended up in the outfield to keep the pressure on at 3-0. Michael Moreau (Marshfield, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to center, while Justin Cage (Glendora, Calif.) got a single through the left side to make it a 5-0 advantage before the Scots second time at the plate.
Gordon only got one batter into scoring position for the entirety of the seven-inning game against Curry's Brian Burke (Swampscott, Mass.), who struck out 10 Scots on the afternoon. That opportunity came in the second inning, but the Scots were unable to bring a run around to score.
Adam Duarte (E. Providence, R.I.) singled in a run in the fifth inning, while the red-hot Nick Crivello (Millville, Mass.) capped off the scoring in the sixth with a single.
Curry piled up nine base hits, all singles, off the bats of only five players. Four Colonels had two hits each. Burke picked up his second win of his senior season with the complete-game effort, scattering only three hits and walking one.
Morgan Hyde (Thomson, Ga.) was tagged with the loss in five innings of work. Only three of the six runs he allowed were earned by the Colonels. Derek Hudson (Hudson, N.H.) K'd three Colonels in two innings of relief.
Game Two
Early scoring plagued the Scots again in the nightcap as the Colonels put five runs on the board before Gordon could record three outs. Four of the first five Colonels recorded a hit, including RBI doubles for Jared Keller (Oxford, Conn.) and John Cave (Tewksbury, Mass.). Crivello also added a double in the inning to set up RBI's for Cage and a bases loaded walk taken by Duarte.
Gordon scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the second as Christian Hodge (Waltham, Mass.) led off the frame with a triple to the gap in right-center. Matt Lucas (Temecula, Calif.) drove Hodge home with a tough grounder down the third-base line, leaving the only out option at first.
Curry put the Scots in a deeper hole in the top of the fourth inning when control came into play on the mound. The Colonels took four walks in the inning, including one with the bases loaded to score a run. Cage doubled in pitcher Alex McLean (Eliot, Maine) before a fielder's choice scored one more for the visitors to make it 8-1.
The Fighting Scots chipped away in the bottom half of the inning as Dean Demers (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and Hodge reached base due to a walk and being hit by a pitch. The Colonels nearly got out of the jam, but Gordon's rookie first baseman, Lucas, knocked a 1-1 pitch to the wall in right center to plate both runs easily.
Vincent LoPriore (Boston, Mass.) punched Curry's fourth extra-base hit of the game as the second batter of the sixth inning to score Cage, who took a lead-off walk.
Gordon raged back in the bottom of the sixth with a rally that got them back within a run at 9-8. Dan Quint (Wells, Maine) singled in a run with a bases-loaded single before Addison Tarr (Oxnard, Calif.) found the gap in right to bring two more runs home. Hyde singled a pitch just inside the right-field line to score Quint easily and Tarr was able to trot home despite initially being held up due to a misplay in right.
Curry's ace David Griffin (Hanover, Mass.) came in to close the door on the Scots with a five-out save, while not allowing the two hits allowed to tie the game.
The Colonels smoked five doubles in the contest. Cage and Cave combined to go 4-for-8 with four RBI.
Hodge was perfect in three at bats for Gordon, while Lucas drove in a game-high three runs.
Curry returns home to host Dean on Monday at 3:00 p.m. Gordon will next play Tuesday when they travel to Bridgewater State for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
(Game Recap Courtesy of Gordon College Sports Information)
