Phoenix, Ariz – March 14, 2009 – The Springfield College baseball team split a pair of games against Roger Williams in its first action of the 2009 season at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational on Saturday.
The Pride dropped its first game of the ’09 campaign by a 3-2 count to Roger Williams, before taking down the Hawks 15-5 in the second contest.
In the opener against the Hawks, sophomore John Schmaltz started the year off right as he went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the Pride attack. Ryan White pitched five innings for the Pride, giving up one earned run while striking out four, yet did not earn a decision. Mario Piscitelli suffered the loss in one inning of work as he gave up an unearned run as the Hawks scored a run in the six to rally for the win. Jamie Mackie also recorded an RBI double in the loss.
The Pride rebounded in the second game with a 15-5 win over Roger Williams. Schmaltz continued to be terrific at the plate as he went 5-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored, a pair of doubles, and a stolen base. Luke Gabordi also had a pair of doubles, driving in three runs and scoring of pair, while Ryan Tatreau and Drew Michael each hit home runs in the Pride’s first win of the year.
On the mound, freshman Steve Forbes had a great first outing in his collegiate career as he went four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Freshman Adam DeFelice came in in relief and picked up the save in three innings of work. Springfield exploded for 15 hits after just tallying five in its opener, but didn’t do itself any favors as it committed seven errors in the field.
