Following their shutout win over Boston College on Tuesday to win the Baseball Beanpot, Northeastern journeyed to Delaware late Friday afternoon. Before the game, Northeastern rested at a record of 25-7 (7-2 CAA), and Delaware had a 17-14 (5-4 CAA) record. In the first game of the series, Northeastern was looking to break Delaware’s three-game winning streak.
In the first inning, the Huskies faced Delaware starter Ethan Shaub, and although Northeastern was unable to score, their offense foreshadowed what would occur later in the game. Northeastern began the game with three hits, coming from second baseman Luke Beckstein with a leadoff bunt, and two singles from first baseman Tyler MacGregor and center fielder Mike Sirota. Delaware was also unable to score in the first against Northeastern starter Jake Gigliotti, as left fielder Alex Lane saved the inning, and made a beautiful defensive play to rob second baseman Chris Dengler of a home run.
Northeastern got the early lead in the second inning as catcher Gregory Bozzo hit a home run to put the Huskies up 1-0. Beckstein and MacGregor both drew walks later in the inning, but the team was unable to score again that inning. Delaware’s offense also started to peek through, with both first baseman Aidan Kane and shortstop Brett Lesher hitting for singles. Despite this action, Delaware did not score in the second inning, and Northeastern maintained their 1-0 lead.
After Ethan Shaub completed two innings, he was replaced by freshman Tyler August, who recorded a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom half of the third, Delaware tied the game after designated hitter Eric Ludman hit for a leadoff double and advanced to third on a stolen base. Left fielder Andrew Amato got a walk to put men on first and third with one out, and Ludman was able to score unconventionally as a balk was called on Gigliotti on a pickoff attempt.
Northeastern then received its first multi-run inning in the fourth with back-to-back RBIs coming from Bozzo and right fielder Harrison Feinberg. Shortstop Carmelo Musacchia started off the inning with a leadoff single and stole second base to move up to 12 stolen bases on the season. After his RBI, Feinberg stole second as Delaware catcher Tyler Leach dropped the pitch received from August. Feinberg advanced to third and stole his second bag of the inning, then scored on a sacrifice fly from MacGregor. Northeastern ended the third inning with three more runs scored to extend their lead to 4-1.
Later in the inning, Kane hit a home run against Gigliotti to get Delaware’s second run of the game, however Sirota ended the inning with another defensive gem, this time a diving play to make the out on the ball hit by center fielder Bryce Greenly.
In the fifth inning, Goodman hit a long ball to put the Huskies up 5-2, but August was able to limit the damage otherwise. Gigliotti got pulled after pitching four innings, with two strikeouts and two runs allowed. He was replaced by lefty reliever Will Jones.
Delaware was able to load up the bases in the bottom of the inning, and Dengler hit a towering grand slam to give Delaware a 6-5 lead, their first of the game. Despite this pitching hiccup, Jones was able to secure the next three outs and end the inning.
Amid the sixth inning, Feinberg hit a one-out double, and MacGregor received an RBI on a ground-rule double to tie the game at six. Jones recorded a scoreless bottom half of the inning to keep the game tied after stranding Greenly on second base after he hit for a double.
Northeastern’s offense showed off in the seventh, hitting back-to-back home runs, extending their lead to 9-6. One was a two-run shot from designated hitter Jack Doyle after third baseman Jack Goodman drew a walk, and Bozzo hit a solo shot for his second home run of the day.
Jones was replaced by righty Cooper McGrath, who allowed a one-out double by right fielder Aaron Graeber to get his first hit of the game. Leach and Kane drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, but McGrath brought the fire by recording back-to-back strikeouts against Lesher and Greenly to leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
To begin the eighth inning, August was replaced by lefty Anthony Gubitosi. Beckstein started off being hit by a pitch, and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. MacGregor then walked to put men on first and second for Lane. Lane also got hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs for Sirota who ended up striking out.
On a wild pitch from Gubitosi, Beckstein scored from third to extend Northeastern’s lead to 10-6. Goodman then hit a double to score Lane and further the lead. Gubitosi was replaced by Wyatt Nelson, who gave up a double to Doyle driving in Goodman, which allowed Northeastern to put up a dozen runs. McGrath recorded a 1-2-3 eighth inning to hold the Huskies’ lead to 12-6 and keep Delaware scoreless for the third straight inning.
In the top of the ninth, Dengler hit a ground-rule double to start against McGrath, who ended his day with a strikeout against Graeber and was replaced by righty Charlie Walker to close out the game. Delaware put in two pinch-hitters, who helped the team load the bases with one out. Walker struck out Aiden Stewart before Delaware scored two on a throwing error by Goodman. Walker secured the Huskies’ victory after inducing a grounder and throwing out Ludman at first for the final out.
Five of Northeastern’s batters recorded a multi-hit game, totaling 14 hits on the day. Both Goodman and Bozzo stood out offensively, as they went 3-4 and 3-5 respectively. Jones secured the win for the Huskies, allowing just three hits, two earned runs, and striking out four.
Northeastern won the game 12-8 and improved to 26-7 (8-2 in conference) on the season, putting themselves on top of the CAA standings.
The Huskies and Blue Hens return to the field Saturday for the second game of the series. Written coverage following the matchup will be provided following the game on our website. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.