Springfield, Mass. – March 24, 2024 – The Springfield College baseball team defeated MCLA in game one of a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon on Archie Allen Field. As a staff, Springfield's pitching staff of Connor Caverly (South Berwick, Maine), Matthew Robinson (Fairfield, Conn.), Nate Kelleher-Mochak (Florence, Mass.) combined for 20 strikeouts in the twinbill.

Springfield improved to 9-6 overall, while MCLA dipped to 3-9. The Pride will open New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday, March 26 against No. 8 Salve Regina University at home at 3:00 pm.

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Game One: Springfield 3, MCLA 0

Joseph Traversa (Pittsfield, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Pride in game one. Michael Lepere (Beacon, N.Y.), Michael Barrett (Longmeadow, Mass.), Adam Crocker (Windsor, Nova Scotia) and Jack Dunaisky (Longmeadow, Mass.) also all tallied one hit for Springfield in the opener.

After four shutout innings by both starting pitchers, Springfield struck first for three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Traversa singled, stole second, moved to third on an infield hit by Lepere and scored on a wild pitch. A base knock up the middle by Barrett, plated Lepere for the 2-0 edge. Then with two outs and two runners on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder allowed Barrett to score. A relay from the right fielder to home cut Springfield's fourth run down at the plate and ended the inning with the score 3-0 in favor of the Pride.

Caverly tossed six shutout innings and struck out ten to earn his first win of the 2024 season, while Robinson picked up his second save of the campaign in the first game of the doubleheader.

Game Two: Springfield 4, MCLA 1

Springfield quickly put together two runs in the bottom of the first as Adam Fine (Wynnewood, Pa.) singled to center and stole both second and third base. Barrett roped the ball to left field and plated Fine on the sacrifice fly. Traversa came into score right behind Fine as he was hit by a pitch stole second and scored on a dropped fly ball by the shortstop.

Both teams traded runs in the second as MCLA's tally came on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, while Springfield's run came on an RBI single by Fine. With one out in the inning, Ryan Duffy (Stafford Springs, N.Y.) doubled down the left field line and came across to score on Fine's knock.

Springfield added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as Luke DiMauro (Haddam, Conn.) lined a single through the left side to plate Barrett for the 4-1 lead.

Kelleher-Mochak was outstanding on the hill in the nightcap for Springfield as he allowed two hits, one run and struck out ten in the complete game effort to improve to 3-1 this spring.