SeaWolves Take NHTI Weekend Series 2-1

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine/CONCORD, N.H.—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) baseball team won the two-day Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) three-game series in a home and away split vs. the Lynx from NHTI spanning Friday, Apr. 12 to Saturday, Apr. 13.

Game 1: W, 9-0 (9 innings) | BOX

First-year Cole Lawrence (Pittston, Maine) was economical in his first start of his collegiate career going 8.0 innings without a run over just two hits and two walks. Lawrence didn't allow a baserunner further than second base in a dominating performance that earned him the victory. Senior captain Sean Adams (Lebanon, Maine) came on in relief to pitch the ninth and keep the shutout intact.

Two four-run innings and 11 hits fueled the SeaWolf offense that averages 9.7 runs per game. Both Adams and first-year outfielder Derek Foss (Raymond, Maine) delivered two-RBI games—sophomore captain Dylan Francoeur (Westbrook, Maine) went 2-3 from the dish to feature two runs, a RBI, and a walk.

View the photo gallery of the game HERE.

Game 2: W, 6-4 (7 innings) | BOX

It was first-year Alexander Schepis (Waterboro, Maine) who took the hill in the first of a doubleheader matinee in N.H. The right-hander threw five innings to allow three earned runs over five hits, doing enough to pick up his fourth win of the season. First-year Jeadan Suazo (Boston, Mass.) gave the road team two innings of relief work to secure a two-run win.

Down 3-0 after the first inning, the SeaWolves scored in each of the next five innings to come up with six runs and take advantage of five fielding errors by the Lynx.

Senior Caleb Burpee (Kennebunk, Maine) and first-year Landon Henzley (Merrimack, N.H.) teamed up for four hits and four RBIs in the contest—Burpee with two extra-base hits and Henzley adding a stolen base.

Game 3: L, 3-2 (8 innings) | BOX

The second of the twinbill proved to be a pitcher's duel started by SMCC's sophomore Cody Bryant (Somersworth, N.H.) and NHTI's Tyler Sargent. First-year Stefan Lesco (Somers, Conn.) made an appearance from the bullpen and combined with Bryant to allow just three hits to NHTI. Sargent was just one-run better as his team walked it off on a fielding error in the bottom of the eighth to spoil SMCC's five-game win streak and hand Lesco just his second loss of the season.

Lesco and first-year Colby Gunter (Nashua, N.H.) each recorded RBIs for the SeaWolves.

Following the series, Head Coach Dave Walsh told us, "Cole gave us a statement performance in his first start on Friday—he a vital piece to this pitching staff. Saturday was a grind. It comes down to pitching in this league and hats off to the NHTI starter Tyler Sargent in the second game to go the distance and keep a run-scoring offense off the board."

SMCC raises its team batting average to .354 and on-base percentage to .455—both team totals lead the 37 members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).

The results leave SMCC 22-6 overall, 3-1 in conference play. NHTI sports an overall record of 5-19, 3-4 YSCC.

The action continues when the SeaWolves travel to Rutland, Vt. to finish their regular season series with the College of Saint Joseph on Monday, Apr. 15. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2/4 p.m.

For the latest on SMCC's athletic programs, log onto GoSMCCSeawolves.com or follow Southern Maine Community College Athletics on Twitter @SMCCseawolves and on Facebook SMCC Seawolves.