AMCATS Shutout Lions, Advance to GNAC Quarterfinals

Worcester, Mass. – Senior Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) pitched seven scoreless innings while sophomore Mike Curley (Linwood, Mass.) was 4-for-4 with an RBI and 3 runs scored in a 12-0 win over Emerson College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) first round baseball action at Quinsigamond Community College. With the win the AMCATS improve to 21-14 and the Lions finish the season at 12-26.

Junior Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) was 3-for-6 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, Conn.) was 3-for-5 with two RBI's and catcher John Sullivan (Southbury, Conn.) also collected 3 hits with an RBI and 3 runs scored.

Peter Maltzan (Lexington, Mass.) paced Emerson with two hits, while teammate Austin Fontanela (Pelham, Mass.) had the only other hit for Emersion on the day.

Anna Maria put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning, batting through the order. Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, Conn.)  led off the game with an infield single. Up next, Justin Hyland drilled his 100^th career hit to deep center field to put runners at second and third. Junior Mike Guarnieri delivered a short single to right field to score Wodatch and Jeff Scafidi doubled to centerfield to plate Wodatch. Two batters later, Guarnieri scored on a Joe McNeil (Sutton, Mass.) sacrifice fly to right field.  Catcher John Sullivan and Curley also produced RBI hits in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

Emerson's starting pitcher Jeff Kolb (Barrington, RI) didn't make it out of the inning, sophomore Nick Kelly (McLean, VA) came in with two outs in the inning and produced a ground ball for the final out. Kelly pitched 5.1 innings of solid relief for the Lions allowing just three AMCAT runs.

Anna Maria added a single run in the bottom of the 4^th inning when Scafidi singled through the left side with the bases loaded to increase the lead to 6-0. The AMCATS notched two unearned runs capitalizing on some shaky Lion's defense in the bottom of the fifth inning.

AMC added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh for the 12-0 final.

Anna Maria's Scafidi pitched a gem from the mound, at one point retiring 5 of 6 batters on strikeouts. The senior, picked up his 5^th win of the season, allowed only two singles and collected 8 k's. Freshman Lucas Davis (Spencer, Mass.) and sophomore Phil Weihn (Clinton, Mass.) each pitched an inning of relief.

Anna Maria now advances to the GNAC quarterfinals, the AMCAT will travel to Johnson & Wales on Thursday, and time has yet to be announced.