Manchester, N.H. — The Adelphi baseball team made its return to conference play on Friday afternoon when the Panthers traveled up to Saint Anselm for a doubleheader.
Game 1: Adelphi 8, Saint Anselm 9
The first matchup of the day got started off with Jack Tate reaching on an error by the Hawks' third baseman and advancing to second. A wild pitch moved the freshman to third and then a single by Joe Pellegrino scored him. Johnny Catuosco came up in the fifth spot in the order and hit a double down the right field line, scoring Pellegrino.
Saint Anselm got one back in the bottom half of the inning and the score stayed at 2-1 until the bottom of the third when the Hawks tied the game on a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the fourth, the Panthers exploded for five runs to take a 7-2 lead. Bryan McCleary started it off with a solo home run and a Greyson Pizzonia single scored Albert Ramos. Pizzonia then stole second and after Jack Tate was hit by a pitch, Pellegrino connected for his tenth home run of the season, tying his season high.
Billy Kind left the game and Saint Anselm slowly got to the Panther bullpen, scoring two in the bottom of the fifth and then tied the game in bottom seven after a sacrifice fly and two run home run.
In the eighth, the Panther bats finally awoke again as a two out rally saw Tate drive in Pizzonia to give Adelphi the lead once again. But that did not last long unfortunately. A pair of Hawks singles in the bottom half was followed by a passed ball and a two-RBI single to make the score 9-8. It stayed there as the Cats went down one-two-three in the top of the ninth and dropped game one.
Game 2: Adelphi 7, Saint Anselm 5 (F/7)
Tate got the offense going to start the backend of the doubleheader as his solo home run gave the Panthers an early lead.
Saint Anselm then tied the game in the bottom half after an RBI single and then the second on third innings saw four runs scored by both teams. Adelphi only scored one in the second as Ramos drove in James Eden, but the Hawks sprung for three to take a 4-2 lead.
The Cats would not go down without a fight as the runs continued to pour in in this one. After a pitching change, Erick Duignan's one out single started the rally. Pizzonia singled then Jack Tate drove in Duignan. Catuosco came up to the plate and just like in game one, drove in two runs to regain the lead for Adelphi. Matt Ryan then had a sacrifice fly to get the lead to 6-4, Cats.
Saint Anselm scored to make it a one run ball game, but that was all they get as C.J. Forman closed the door.
The second Tate home run of the day added insurance as Forman went three complete innings to earn the second save of his career.
After the day, the Panthers currently sit at 10-12 in NE10 play and hold onto the last playoff spot in the Southwest Division. Head coach Bill Ianniciello and the Cats return to the field on Sunday for two with Southern New Hampshire. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
