Drosidis Hits for the Cycle in 22-8 Victory Over NVU-Lyndon

PAXTON, MA: The Anna Maria College baseball team cruised to a 22-8 win over visiting Northern Vermont University-Lyndon on Tuesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts.

THE BASICS:

- Date: March 9, 2021
- Score: Anna Maria 22, NVU Lyndon 8
- Records: NVU Lyndon (0-1), Anna Maria (3-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- The AMCATS jumped out in front in the bottom of the first when junior shortstop Kosta Drosidis (Holden, MA) hit a fly ball to right that caught a favorable wind at NEBC, bouncing off the wall for a triple that drove in the first run of the game. On the very next at-bat, Drosidis would score off an RBI single from sophomore third baseman James Powers (Folsom, CA), who continued his torrid start to his season to make it 2-0. One batter later, senior first baseman Noah Holland (Sandwich, MA) went yard over the right field wall giving Anna Maria a four run lead. Finally, senior catcher Greg Gehring (Southold, NY) hit an RBI double to left center, as every batter in the Anna Maria lineup saw an at-bat before the side was finally retired, with the AMCATS leading 5-0.

-  In the bottom of the second, Drosidis continued to find the sweet spot for Anna Maria, crushing a two RBI home run to straight-ahead center. The teams entered the third inning with the AMCATS leading 7-0.

- More came Anna Maria's way in the third inning, as junior left fielder Jarrod Marifiote (Framingham, MA) singled up the middle to drive in another AMCAT run. On the very next at bat, Drosidis picked up his third RBI base-hit of the day, singling to left field to drive in Marifiote as the home team took a commanding 9-0 lead.

- The Hornets of NVU Lyndon finally broke through in the top of the fourth as sophomore Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) hit a lead-off home run to put the visitors on the board. Five batters later and with two outs, senior Ryan Boucher (St. Albans, VT) smacked a triple to right-center to score two more runs. Anna Maria escaped any further damage, but their lead had been cut to 9-3.

- In the bottom of the fourth, the AMCATS got a run back off the bat of freshman pinch hitter Aidan Calcaterra (Bayonne, NJ) as the rookie picked up his first career hit and RBI off a single to left to score Powers. On the next batter, senior right fielder Jason Shell (Sandwich, MA) plated another run off an RBI single to drive in Holland. Two batters later, senior second baseman Fili Veras (Sleepy Hollow, NY) doubled to right center for his first two RBIs of the season, as Anna Maria took a 13-3 advantage.

- Anna Maria continued to apply pressure on NVU-Lyndon in the fifth inning, as senior pinch runner Phillip Antonucci IV (Revere, MA) scored from third off a fielding error. On the very next at-bat, Holland doubled to right center to plate freshman pinch runner Liam Kane (Waterford, CT). Three batters later, junior Nick Morley (Milbury, MA) came to the plate for his first at-bat of the season with the bases loaded and promptly unloaded them with a grand slam for just his second career hit. The six runs by the AMCATS gave them a 19-3 lead.               

- In the bottom of the sixth, the Anna Maria reserves continued to make the most of their playing time, as sophomore Seref Mcdowell (Wareham, MA) hit an RBI single up the middle. Two batters later, freshman Joseph Yannelli (Thorton, PA) had his first career hit, a two-RBI single to centerfield to take the lead to 22-3.               

- The Hornets attempted to rally in the top of the eighth, with senior Tyler Roberge (Essex, VT) and junior TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) singling in runs, senior Ryder Thornton (Essex, VT) plating one on a sacrifice fly, and freshman Jordan Cane (Merrimac, MA) and senior Codi Smith (Hartford, VT) both hitting RBI singles. NVU-Lyndon finished the inning with five more runs than they had started with. That would close out the scoring for the night.          

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Anna Maria freshman pitcher Jake Usenia (Uxbridge, MA / Uxbridge), making his first career start for the AMCATS, struck out three and allowed just one earned run in three-and-two-thirds innings. Sophomore pitcher Joe Dorman (Sandwich, MA / St. John Paul II) would pick up the win, striking out three in one and a third innings while allowing no runs.

- Kosta Drosidis finished the contest 4-for-4, completing the rare feat of hitting for the cycle.       

UP NEXT:

- Anna Maria has a quick turnaround as they return to action on Wednesday when they host crosstown rival Becker College in a 3:00 p.m. game at NEBC.

STAY CONNECTED:

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