The Suffolk men’s baseball team may have brought some warm weather back with them from Florida, but this team needs to start bringing the heat on the diamond if they look to turn some heads in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
Although there have been no conference games on the schedule up to this point, momentum is something every team wants to have. Building chemistry and work ethic will be important as 16 of the club’s remaining 25 games will have everything to do with the GNAC title.
The Rams dropped their first two games on Massachusetts soil by a combined score of 29-11.
Suffolk dropped its overall 11th game of the season by a score of 12-6 at Wheaton College on March 20th.
Formerly 2-0, Jhonarres Mendez suffered his first loss of the season, going 3.2 innings, and allowing 2 earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Johnathan Richard finished the game strong going 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
Eight un-earned runs on four errors hurt the Rams as they out-scored Wheaton in earned runs by a score of 6-4.
Jake Cintolo, Devan Jones, and Mendez all had two RBI, showing teams that the two, three, and four hitters on this club are dangerous. Mendez also homered.
The next contest with Babson ended in similar fashion, this time by a deficit of 17-5.
Steve Chamberlain worked 4.1 innings for Suffolk, allowing seven earned runs and tagged with the loss.
Jake Cintolo continued his bat-work at the plate going 3-4 on the day with two extra-base hits (one for a HR), and three RBI.
Suffolk improved to 4-8-1 on the season with an 11-4 victory versus Bridgewater St. University on March 22.
Tim Belanger looked impressive for the Rams as he earned his first victory of the season. Belanger worked seven innings, allowing three earned runs. Mike Masulli allowed one hit and one run working the eighth and ninth innings.
Once again Cintolo, Jones, and Mendez chipped in with two RBI respectively to lead the way offensively.
Next, the Rams split a double header versus Rhode Island College winning the noon game 9-5 and dropping the second in heartbreaking fashion by a score of 1-0.
Mitche Monke improved to 2-1 in the first game, tossing five innings allowing four runs while also fanning four.
Jake Cintolo once again stole the show going 3-4 with two RBI and two extra base hits.
Devan Jones also had a nice day at the plate going 2-4 with a RBI and extra base hit.
In game two, Suffolk and Rhode Island each fought until the last out to get their team a victory. In the top of the 7th, RI stung together two hits in a row which plated the first run of the game. Suffolk could not find a run of their own in the latter of the seventh which resulted in a 1-0 loss.
Freshman starting pitcher Josh Desi could not find his first win, but looked very impressive throwing all seven innings for the Rams, striking out eight, and allowing the one blemish that decided the game.
The men’s baseball team now sits at a record of 5-9-1 and will look to get the home cookin’ started as they play 11 out of their next 16 games at home.
The team plays at Brandeis today and the next home game for the Rams is Thursday versus Bridgewater St. University.
The team then plays a doubleheader against St. Joseph’s of Maine on Sunday.