'CATS Tame Lynx Win 13-5

Worcester, Mass. – Anna Maria spotted Lesley University a 5-1 lead and then powered back  to a 13-5  win in non-conference baseball action at New Balance Field on a cold and blustery Monday afternoon. With the win the AMCATS move to 8-7 while Lesley drops to 3-11 on the season.

The AMCATS were paced by Kevin Wodatch's (Wallingford, Conn.) 4-for-6, 5 RBI day at the plate and his five inning, four strikeout performance from the mound. Juniors Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) and Mike Gaurnieri (Wallingford, Conn.) each contributed with 2 RBI's and Carlos Ortiz (Worcester, Mass.) stole three bags on the day. Freshman pitcher Lucas Davis (Spencer, Mass.) had five strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Lesley's Aqib Shah (Watertown, MA) had two of the team's five hits and RBI's, while Andrew Colon, Andrew Cootware and Joe Muratore each has singles for the Lynx. Pitcher John Gosnell (Toronto, ON) went a gutsy 6.1 innings giving up nine runs and striking out three.

The AMCATS picked up the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike Gaurnieri. The Lynx scored all their runs in the top of the second, with two runners on Joe Muratore stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single to left field to tie the game at 1-1. Ryan McQuade followed with a fielder's choice RBI and Shah had a 2-RBI double to left field. The Lynx would add one more run in the inning to hold a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the second.

The AMCATS would chip away at the lead scoring single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to cut the lead to 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth inning the AMCATS would capitalized on shaky defense by Lesley scoring three unearned runs. With Carlos Ortiz and Joe McNeil (Sutton, Mass.) on base already Andre Dupre (Northbridge, Mass.) reached base on an error by the Lesley shortstop scoring a run and then Wodatch lined a shot up the middle scoring two more runs to put the AMCATS ahead for good at 7-5.

Anna Maria would score another three runs in the bottom of the seventh on RBI hits by Wodatch, Gaurnieri and Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.).  Justin Hyland delivered a 2 RBI single to right field in the home half of the eighth inning for the 13-5 final.

Anna Maria returns to action on Wednesday when they host Nichols College at 3:30 pm at Quinsigamond Community College.