Cadets March Past AMCATS in GNAC Doubleheader

Worcester, Mass. - The Anna Maria College baseball team dropped a double header to visiting Norwich University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action today at Clark University. The Cadets captured game one by a score of 5-3 and posted a 13-2 victory in the nightcap.

With the wins Norwich improves to 4-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play, while Anna Maria dips to 5-14 on the season and 2-6 in the GNAC.

Game 1 : Norwich 5, Anna Maria 3

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning the AMCATS strung together three runs. With one out freshman Joshua Creamer (Groveland, Mass.) doubled deep to left field and Corey Andrade (Mashpee, Mas.) reached on an error by the Cadets' third baseman. Senior John Sullivan (Southbury, Mass.) stepped to the plate and lined a double down the right field line scoring Creamer from second base to even the game at 1-1. Matthew Leahey (Rutland, Mass.) delivered an RBI single up the middle and Sullivan crossed the dish on a passed ball to grow the lead to 3-1 after three complete.

The Cadets answered quickly in the top of the fourth inning. Billy Whaley doubled in Tim Haggerty, who had walked to open the inning, then came around to score on Travis Jacques triple to center field. Brian Baker followed with a double to left field platting Jacques to give the Cadets a 4-3 lead.

Billy Whaley led off the sixth with a solo home run to push the Cadet advantage to 5-3.

Billy Whaley pitched six strong innings for the Cadets to earn his second win of the season, Brian Whaley pitched a perfect seventh inning for his first save of the season.

Senior Lucas Davis took the loss for the AMCATS allowing four earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.

GAME TWO: Norwich 13, Anna Maria 2

Norwich wasted little time in game two getting on board tallying a run in the top of the first inning.  LaShawn Thomas led off the nightcap with a triple down the left field line and scored on a fielder's choice by Sean Gerich for the early 1-0 advantage.  

Norwich added two more runs in the third inning when Cody Lindell delivered a 2-RBI double down the left field line and the Cadets broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth frame when they exploded for 10 runs to take a 13-0 lead.

Anna Maria would break up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh inning. Capitalizing on shaky defense by the Cadets, Creamer doubled to left center scoring Jonathan Roy from second base. Corey Andrade collected his seventh RBI of the season with a double to left center for the 13-2 final.

Brandon Place tallied his first win of the season for Norwich pitching four innings allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Andrew Sawyer (Dracut, Mass.) suffered the loss for Anna Maria allowing six runs on eight hits with one strikeout.

Anna Maria is back at it again tomorrow when they host Lasell College for a GNAC doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. The game will be played at Assumption College.