Babson Park, Mass. — March 22, 2011 — The Springfield College baseball team opened its New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference portion of its season by falling to Babson College, 7-0, at Govoni Field. After beginning the season 5-0, the Pride has now lost four straight.

With the win, Babson raises its record to 10-2 overall, 4-0 in the NEWMAC. Springfield is now 5-4 overall, 0-1 in league play.

For Babson, Michael Bortolotti hurled the first eight innings and gave up no runs on just three hits. He walked two and struck out two. He was relieved by Jeff Browne in the ninth. Browne walked the first two batters he faced, but then struck out the side in order to end it.

For SC, freshman righthander Alex Williams (East Hartford, Conn.) pitched the first five innings, allowing five runs, all earned, on six hits. He struck out six and walked four. He was relieved by junior Daniel Jones (Mechanicville, N.Y.) to start the sixth inning. Jones pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out one.

Freshman lefthander Mike McGowan (Franklin, Mass.) came on in the eighth to face one man and get the last out.

One of Springfield’s best threats came in the very first inning. The Pride had two on with one out, but could not push across a run.

The Pride could muster only three hits the entire outing. The hits came from senior centerfielder John Schmaltz (Cromwell, Conn.) and junior first baseman Karl Quist (New Preston, Conn.) in the first inning, and by senior third baseman Mike Robilotto (East Meadow, N.Y.) to lead off the second inning.

For Babson, Conor Kortmann hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second for the only run the Beavers would need. Kortmann came back in the fourth inning and knocked a single to right to drive in twe more. That proved to be the big hit in a four-run fourth

The Beavers finished up by scoring two more in the bottom of the eighth.

Springfield at long last will get a chance to play at home Wednesday at 3:30 when it hosts Keene State.