AMCATS Sweep Emerson on Senior Day

Paxton,  Mass. – The Anna Maria College baseball  team swept Emerson College 9-1 and 4-1 on Senior Day in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Wachusett Regional High School. With the win the AMCATS improve to 13-14 overall and 7-5 in conference play, while the Lions drop to 1-22, 1-9 GNAC on the season.

In a pre-game ceremony Head Coach Dave McNamara praised his senior class of Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, Conn.), Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.), Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, Conn.), Will Krug (Gales Ferry, CT) and Padraig Gilman (Leominster, Mass.) for their contributions to the AMC baseball program.

Wodatch paced the AMCATS going 5-for-8 with two doubles and 4 RBI's on the afternoon. John Sullivan (Southbury, Conn.), the reigning GNAC Player of the Week, continued his torrid pace connecting for hits in 4-of-6 at-bats with 2 RBI's.  Joe McNeil (Sutton, Mass.) had three hits, while Krug was 1-for-2 with 2 RBI's for Anna Maria.

GAME ONE: Anna Maria 9, Emerson 1

In the first frame Anna Maria put two runs on the board, Sullivan delivered an RBI single scoring Wodatch who had opened the inning with a single through the right side. With a double steal in motion Hyland stole home for the second run of the inning.

Anna Maria doubled their lead to 4-0, in the home half of the fourth inning. With AMCATS on the corners, Krug doubled to right center to plate both runs. Anna Maria would add a run in the fifth and blow the game open in the sixth frame with four runs. Wodatch would double in two runs, while McNeil had an RBI sacrifice fly in the inning.

Emerson would break-up the shutout attempt with a run in the top of the seventh.

Justin Hyland pitched all seven innings allowing just five hits with seven strikeouts for the win.

GAME TWO: Anna Maria 4, Emerson 1

After two scoreless innings the AMCATS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Wodatch produced a double to left center that scored freshman Anthony Risotti (Templeton, Mass.) who had singled to right field with one out.

The Lions evened the score in the top of the fifth frame. After Jim Cain led off the inning with a double to left field he came around to score on a Steve Cameron single to right field.

Anna Maria would add two runs in the home half of the fifth, capitalizing on an Emerson error, Wodatch would open the inning at second. Joe McNeil would single and Guarnieri would draw a base on balls loading the bases with AMCATS. Justin Hyland would step to the plate and provide a two run single to right field to make it a 3-1 game.

Anna Maria would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth for the 4-1 final.

Sophomore Tyler Stuart (Oxford, Mass.) pitched seven strong innings for his fourth win of the season. The righty scattered seven hits on the day allowing just one earned run while striking out seven Emerson batters.

The AMCATS return to action tomorrow when they travel to Lasell College for a noontime GNAC doubleheader. The game will be played at Brandeis University.