© Gabriel Fidler
© Gabriel Fidler

Teehan Tosses Shutout as Bucs Win Two

SALEM, Mass. – Logan Sullo drove in four runs in game one of a MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday and John Teehan pitched a shutout in the nightcap as Massachusetts Maritime Academy cruised to a 10-3 and 5-0 sweep of Salem State University. The Buccaneers have now won five in-a-row and eight-of-nine as the squad improved to 11-7 and undefeated in the conference.

Game 1
Mass Maritime scored twice in the opening inning off starter Brock Riley. Two straight singles allowed Coby Gerbis (Bradenton, Fla.) to plate the first run on a fielder's choice. Jackson Simone (Seattle, Wash.) followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 Buccaneer lead. The Vikings scored a run in the bottom of the frame, but the Bucs added two more runs in the second on a two-run single by Gerbis.

The Buccaneers made it 8-1 in the third as three Viking errors and three MMA safeties led to a four-run frame. Casey Furnas, profiled earlier this week as part of Division-III Week festivities, stroked a safety to right with one out and Logan Sullo followed with a two-run single to do most of the damage.

While a Kyle O'Connor triple in the bottom of the third plated two, the 8-3 deficit was too much for the hosts. Single runs in the fifth and seventh put the game on ice for the Bucs.

Furnas (Boca Raton, Fla.) went 4-for-5 with two runs, while Sullo was a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI. Gerbis had three RBI for Mass Maritime. Mason Ashburn turned in another gem, striking out nine in six frames, working around six hits and two walks, allowing three earned runs. The rookie hurler has now struck out 29 in 26 2/3 and has a 3.38 ERA on the season. Colin Thoener (Foxborough, Mass.) pitched a scoreless inning in relief.  

Brock Riley (4-1) took his first loss of the season after surrendering seven hits and eight runs, four earned in 2 1/3. Joshua Bell tossed the final 4 2/3, allowing two runs. Joe White went 3-for-3 while Mac Daniel Singleton produced a 2-for-4 effort at the plate.

Game 2
Nathan Anderson (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Connor Kennedy (West Barnstable, Mass.) each provided RBI-singles in the second inning, staking the Buccaneers to a 2-0 lead. Mass Maritime increased their lead to 4-0 in the third on run-scoring singles by Billy Keane (Braintree, Mass.) and Ben Paine (Dartmouth, Mass.). 

Meanwhile, Teehan did not allow a hit between the first and fifth innings. Singleton and O'Connor singled with one out in the fifth for Salem State, but Teehan escaped any damage with a groundout and strikeout.

A sacrifice fly by Gerbis made it 5-0 in the sixth and that was all that Teehan needed. The righty, who saved both ends of a doubleheader last weekend, but Teehan sent down nine on strikes as he worked around six weeks and three walks. Anderson had the best game of his university career, ripping three singles in three at bats, while Marley Dembitzki was 2-for-3.

Steve Leavitt (2-2) started the game for Salem State, going four innings and allowing four runs, three earned, and seven hits with a pair of strikeouts. Ed Duran gave up three hits and a run with a strikeout in three innings of work. O'Connor had half of Salem's six hits.

Tomorrow's doubleheader at Hendy Field against Emerson College has been cancelled, so the Bucs' next contest is at Fisher College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. In the meantime, bookmark www.mmabucs.com and get the inside scoop on Facebook and Twitter @mmabuccaneers. Plus, check out our new Instagram @massmaritimebuccaneers.

Gabriel Fidler, Sports Information Associate, with copy from Joseph Beitz, Salem State.