Anna Maria Sweeps Eastern Nazarene, McNamara Posts 100th Win

QUINCY, Mass.- Anna Maria College swept Eastern Nazarene in non-conference baseball action 6-5 and 4-2 today at Adams Field. With the wins the AMCATS improve to 5-11 overall, while head coach Dave McNamara nets his 100^th and 101^st wins in the AMC dugout. ENC drops to 5-10 on the season.

In game one, Anna Maria plated a pair of runs in the first to grab a 2-0 edge. Andrew Montiverdi singled to right-centerfield to score Kevin Wodatch and Mike Guarnieri with two outs.

Eastern Nazarene responded with two runs in the home half of the first to level the score, 2-2. Ryan Garza (Elsa, Texas) and Jake Koch (Dayton, Nev.) landed back-to-back RBI singles with two away in the inning.

The AMCATS seized a 3-2 lead in the top of the second as Padraig Gilman scored on a RBI base knock by Joe McNeil.

The visitors doubled their advantage to 4-2 in the fourth inning. Gilman crossed the plate as Wodatch laced a single to right field.

The Lions captured a one-run edge in the bottom of the fifth, tallying three runs to lead 5-4. Estrada ignited Eastern Nazarene's rally with a two-out double to left. Berroa followed with a single up the middle to drive in Estrada from second while Berroa advanced to second on the throw home.

After Berroa took third on a wild pitch, Max Pugh (San Diego, Calif.) doubled to the gap in left-center to even the score at 4-4. Pugh advanced to third and scooted home with the go-ahead run on back-to-back wild pitches.

Anna Maria reclaimed a one-run lead in the next half-inning, scoring twice in the top of the sixth to go ahead 6-5. McNeil and Guarnieri each picked up RBI base hits in the inning as Anthony Risotti and McNeil came across to score.

Lucas Davis worked 4.2 innings on the mound in a no-decision outing, fanning four batters and allowing a pair of earned runs. Tyler Stuart pitched two innings in relief striking out one batter and a run scored to earn his second win for AMC. Phil Weihn closed out the game on the hill for the AMCATS, recording the last out to post his third save of the game.

In the nightcap, the visitors jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the second inning. Gilman motored home from second on a single by Risotti that ricocheted off the pitcher's mound and rolled into left field. Julian Diaz registered his first RBI of the day with a single through the left side of the infield to drive in Risotti.

Anna Maria tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth to stretch its lead to 4-0. McNeil scored as Gilman landed a single in shallow centerfield. Guarnieri jogged home to score the AMCATS' fourth run of the contest after Risotti was hit by a pitch.

Eastern Nazarene got on the board in the fifth, cutting the gap to 4-2. Quentin Moore sparked the Lions' offense with his first collegiate hit, a single up the middle. Jeremy Wagner and Rocco Martinelli followed with walks to load the bases. Chiaradio drove in Moore and Wagner with a two-run single up the middle with two outs.

Senior Justin Hyland hurled 4.2 innings in his fourth outing of the year. Hyland fanned five Lions while surrendering just two hits and two runs to pick up his first win of the season. Sophomore Brandon Normandin made his fourth pitching appearance of the season, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three batters to earn his first save of the year.

McNamara, now in his seventh season with Anna Maria has a career record of 101-140. After posting just one win in his first season he has had three consecutive 20-win seasons for AMC and three straight post-season appearances. In 2011 the AMCATS captured the ECAC Championship, the first in school history. Coach Mac, the reigning GNAC Coach of the Year, has produced the GNAC Player of the Year, TCCC/ECAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, and several first and second team all-conference recipients.

Anna Maria will return to the diamond after the Easter break when they travel to Nichols College on Tuesday for a non-conference game, first pitch is slated for 3:30pm.