Suffolk University baseball hosted the Emerson College Lions on Marathon Monday, winning via the mercy rule in eight innings by a 16-6 score.
The Rams won their 22nd straight game against Emerson with the victory, having gone 28-1 against the Lions since 2000. In the last three games between the two, Suffolk has combined to outscore Emerson 52-11 and are 14-1 against Emerson as the home team.
Seven Suffolk players recorded at least one hit while five had multiple hits. The Rams scored 16 runs in a game for the second time in as many days, previously defeating Western New England University 16-7 in game one of their April 15 doubleheader. The win improved the Rams record to 15-12 as they enter the stretch run.
“Going down the stretch I think we just need to have more consistent at-bats one-nine,” said senior Garret Roberts. “We did a really good job of putting the ball in play with two strikes and putting pressure on the defense to make plays.”
Harry Painter led the way for the Rams offensively, driving in six runs while going two-for-five at the plate. Roberts, Jonny Gilbride, Alex Sorenti-Burns and Joe Norris all had two RBIs for the Rams while Christopher White had one.
After Emerson took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run triple, Suffolk got all three runs back in the bottom of the first on three RBI doubles. After Emerson took a 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the fourth, the Rams went ahead and stayed ahead.
With a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Painter broke the game open for the Rams. He hit a triple with the bases loaded, scoring all three runs to make it a 10-5 score. After two scoreless innings, Emerson got one run back in the top of the eighth on an RBI single.
Suffolk responded in their half of the eighth with a six-run inning. White drew a bases-loaded walk, Norris hit an RBI single, Roberts added a two-run double, Cole Hilliard scored on an error and Gilbride capped the rally with an RBI single.
The Rams tagged Emerson starting pitcher Ty Bourne for eight runs on nine hits and a pair of walks in four and two-thirds innings. Russell Silverman pitched the final two and two-thirds innings for the Lions, allowing eight runs on six hits and five walks.
Sophomore pitcher TJ Dimitriou got the start for the Rams. The transfer from Babson College picked up his second win in a Suffolk uniform, allowing three runs over five innings pitched. Freshman Ian Maude allowed one run while pitching the final three innings, getting the three-inning save in relief.
Roberts emphasized the need for a more consistent offensive approach and working at-bats against opposing pitchers as the Rams enter the playoff push.
“Making starters earn their strikeouts, working counts and getting to the bullpen early will be key for us going forward,” said Roberts. “If we can combine those two approaches, we’ll be hard to beat.”
After being blown out by conference rival and number one ranked Endicott College April 16, the Rams’ three-game winning streak was snapped. They look ahead to a doubleheader April 20 against the Wentworth Institute of Technology at East Boston Memorial Park.
