CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – Outfielders
Nicholas Gattuso and
Paul Links combined for 11 RBIs to lead the Centenary University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Clarks Summit University in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
The Cyclones scored a run in each of the final two innings to force the game to extra innings and then exploded for six runs in the top of the 10
th for a 13-7 game one victory. Eight of the nine starters recorded at least one hit as the Cyclones exploded for a 25-1 win in game two.
Game One Recap (Cyclones Win 13-7 in 10): Trailing 1-0 in game one, the Cyclones responded with a four spot in the top of the third. Gattuso contributed a two-run double in the inning while first baseman
Brandon Smith had an RBI single.
Clarks Summit made it a 4-3 game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
A double off the bat of shortstop
Christopher Gass in the top of the sixth extended the Centenary advantage to 5-3.
Clarks Summit took a 6-5 lead with three runs in the bottom half of that inning.
Kegan Laman had a two-run double in the inning.
The Defenders added another run in the seventh and took a 7-5 advantage.
Centenary began its comeback in the top of the eighth as Gass' sac fly made it a 7-6 game.
Catcher
James Howlett used an infield single to plate Links with the game-tying run in the top of the ninth.
After a scoreless bottom half of the inning, the Cyclone broke out the bats as the game went to extras. Centenary plated six runs on seven hits in the frame. Catcher
Chris Miller had a two-run single while third baseman
Anthony Vassallo delivered an RBI triple. Gass also had his second RBI double of the game as Centenary claimed the 13-7 win.
Jared Miller picked up the win after a strong relief outing. Miller went the final five innings and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out four.
Tyler Martinez, who started the game for the Cyclones, had 10 strikeouts in four innings.
Joshua Knight took the loss after giving eight runs in relief work.
Gattuso led Centenary at the plate with four hits in five at-bats and three RBIs while Links had three hits and three runs scored. Gass added two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored as well.
Game Two Recap (Centenary Wins 25-1): The Cyclones scored early and often in game two of the doubleheader.
Centenary scored three in the first and four in the second for a 7-1 advantage. Links had a two-run single in the second and scored a run in the first while designated hitter
Michael Vallario also had a two-run single in the second.
The Cyclones pushed their lead to 15-1 with an eight-run top of the third. Gass had a bases clearing double in the inning while Links and Vallario also had RBI doubles.
Centenary scored a run in the top of the fourth and led 16-1.
The Cyclones scored nine runs in the top of the fifth and led 25-1. Links had three RBIs in the inning while Smith had a two-run double in the frame.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh innings, the game was called due to darkness.
Nick Guiro tossed a complete game to earn the win for the Cyclones. He struck out eight and allowed just one unearned run in the contest.
Kaleb Thomas took the loss for Clarks Summit after giving up seven runs in two innings.
Links was 4-for-5 in the contest with six RBIs and three runs scored while Gattuso and Vallario each added two hits. Gattuso added two RBIs and three runs scored while Vallario had three RBIs and one run scored.
Centenary is back in action on Saturday, April 24 when it hosts Wilson at 12 p.m.
