After splitting the first two games of the series against Towson, Northeastern came into Sunday’s rubber match looking to continue their CAA dominance and claim their third straight series win. Despite a slow start for both sides, the Huskies were able to blow the game open late, and claim a 9-4 victory over the Tigers.
Northeastern (24-7, 7-2) entered Sunday’s matchup leading the CAA, while the Tigers (8-22, 3-6) sat near the bottom of the table in 10th. After having their nine game win streak ended on Saturday, the Huskies were looking for a bounce back performance.
After a disappointing start Saturday from sophomore Aiven Cabral, in which he gave up four earned runs in just 2.1 innings of work, the Northeastern pitching staff was looking for a strong display from Wyatt Scotti who took the mound for Sunday’s contest.
Scotti has been a recent bright spot for Northeastern’s starting rotation, which has failed to produce complete performances and go deep into games. He had pitched six innings in his previous two starts, giving up a combined six earned runs on nine hits.
Scotti’s performance Sunday will go down as his best performance of the season so far, as he spun six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. He continues to produce star performances and continues to cement himself as the ace for the Huskies as the season continues.
Northeastern struck first in the second inning when Towson outfielder Cole Stefano dropped a fly ball off the bat of Carmelo Musacchia. Stefano’s error proved costly for the Tigers as it scored the runners from second and third giving Northeastern an early 2-0 lead. The Huskies were able to increase their lead to 3-0 in the third inning after a fielder’s choice play brought in a runner from third.
Towson also received a strong performance of their own from starter Brett Seils. He was able to silence a strong Northeastern offense through five innings, giving up four hits and only one earned run.
The Huskies were only able to keep Towson off the board for so long, as the Tigers offense came to life in the seventh inning. Towson was able to capitalize on an infield throwing error by Musacchia, which drove in two runs to tie the game.
Later in the inning, Stefano was able to make-up for his error with a two-run single of his own, to give Towson a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth inning.
Even though they trailed for the first time in the game, Northeastern remained unphased and responded with six runs of their own. An RBI single by Tyler MacGregor ignited the Huskies offense, and catcher Greg Bozzo added a bases-clearing double giving Northeastern a demanding 9-4 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Northeastern made the call to the bullpen for junior Dennis Colleran. After struggling early in the early stages of the season as a member of the starting rotation, Colleran has been moved to the bullpen over the last few weeks.
He rose to the occasion Sunday, as he gave Northeastern a solid inning of work, not giving up a single hit and striking out two hitters. Outings like this are crucial as the Huskies look to rely on veterans like Colleran to get the job done in the late innings
Junior Jack Beauchesne closed the game for the Huskies sealing a 9-4 win and securing another CAA series victory for Northeastern.
Beauchesne has continued to deliver clinical performances out of the bullpen for Northeastern as he has only given up eight hits in 13.1 innings. Additionally, he leaves the weekend with a 0.68 ERA, proving himself as one of the strongest pieces of the Huskies bullpen.
Northeastern returns to action on Tuesday as they face Boston College as they search for their first Baseball Beanpot championship since 2013. Justin Diament, Amelia Ballingall, and Luke Graham will be on the call on WRBBSports+with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.