MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College baseball team dropped a 13-4 final to Johnson & Wales University on Friday afternoon in non-conference action at the Jack Vallely Diamond.
The Wildcats (16-5 overall) led from wire-to-wire through the nine-inning affair and allowed four runs over the first four innings. Johnson & Wales starter freshman Dane Dellavalle (Howell, N.J.) pitched 6.0 innings and struck out three to earn the win. Classmate Matt Klarberg (Wayne, .N.J.) tossed the final three innings and converted the save. Sophomore Philip Ledwith (Old Saybrook, Conn.) was credited with the loss and lasted 3.0 innings on the hill for the Colonels and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out two.
The Wildcats scored the game's first runs in the second inning. Senior Aidan Hagarty (Weed, Calif.) led off the frame with a solo shot to right field. Senior Adam Diehl (Cypress, Texas) followed with a double down the left field line and would later score on an error by Curry junior Adam Duarte (East Providence, R.I.) for the 2-0 cushion.
Curry answered right back in the home half. Freshman Jason Leonard (Dedham, Mass.) came through with a lead-off solo homer to straightaway center to make the score 2-1 in favor of Johnson & Wales.
The Wildcats added to its lead in the fourth inning, scoring five times. Junior Nick Lloyd (Plymouth, Mass.) got things started with a single through the left side to score classmate Armani Henderson (Johnston, R.I.). With two on, sophomore Anthony Roman (Vega Baja, PR) stepped to the dish and connected on a three-run homer. The scoring was rounded out in the frame when Diehl converted on a sacrifice fly to left to plate junior Joe Maracic (Syosset, N.Y.) to push the score to 7-1.
The Colonels put up three runs of their own in fourth to cut into the deficit. Senior Tyler Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) reached base on an error for Curry's first base runner and then advanced to second on the throw. With two outs in the frame, sophomore Dylan Ketterer (Plymouth, Mass.) recorded a single to center to score Jenkins. Sophomore Garrett Fosher (Exeter, N.H.) followed with a single down the right field line, which scored Ketterer. Senior Michael Strizzi (Williamstown, Mass.) capped the inning with an RBI double to center to score Fosher to make the score, 7-4.
Johnson & Wales padded the lead in the fifth, scoring five runs. Hagarty opened the scoring as he drew a bases-loaded walk to score Roman. Following a Colonels pitching change, Diehl drew the second consecutive bases-loaded walk, this one charged to freshman Joseph Sorrento (Danvers, Mass.), which Maracic. The onslaught continued when Henderson doubled to right field to right field, which drove in Hagarty and Greenhalgh. The visitors rounded out the scoring in the inning after junior Rich Bordeau (Pawtucket, R.I.) drew a bases-loaded walk to score Diehl to make the score, 12-4.
The Wildcats added their final run in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Lloyd, which scored Diehl for the 13-4 final.
Strizzi, Leonard, and Fosher each finished with two hits for the Colonels. Roman, Maracic, Greenhalgh,
Henderson, and Bordeau all finished with two hits apiece for Johnson & Wales.
Curry (7-11-1 overall) returns to action on Saturday, April 6 at home against Nichols for a conference doubleheader starting at noon. Johnson & Wales will also play on Saturday at Keene State at 2:00 p.m.
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