Teehan Out-Pitched in MASCAC Quarterfinals

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – John Teehan and Kyle Hodgson matched zeroes for the first five innings of the MASCAC Baseball Championship Quarterfinal at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, but Framingham State University scored in the final four innings to win 10-1. The Buccaneers are down to their final game of the season in tomorrow's semifinal matchup with Salem State University.

The first five innings of the conference postseason game rocked along quickly with Teehan and Hodgson putting up an exhilarating and fast-moving pitchers' duel. Maritime had its first opportunity with runners on the corners and no outs in the second, but Hodgson induced three quick outs.

In the next half-inning, Teehan issued a one-out free pass and Bobby Higgins singled to right center, advancing to second on an unnecessary throw to third. However, the Buccaneers' rookie right-hander continued his super mix of slider and fastball on the outside corner to whiff the next two batters.

The Navy-and-Gold put a pair of runners on in the fourth, but neither pitcher looked like he could be solved. It was the Rams who induced a run first, however. Having set down nine in-a-row with one out in the sixth, Teehan issued his second free pass to Matthew Brockett. Aaron Williams and Cameron Borrelli followed with one-base knocks, before Kyle Pileski lifted one to right. Williams raced home, leaping over the swiping Logan Sullo at home to score Framingham's second run.

Hodgson kept dealing and the Rams added another run in the seventh on another sacrifice fly. That was all for Teehan, who came out after 111 pitches at the send of the frame.

The visitors opened the floodgates in the eighth against Colin Thoener, with the first five batters reaching safely. Williams had a leadoff double in frame, while Matt Fogarty had a two-run safety. A nifty 4-6-3 double play and a strikeout finished the frame, but not before the Rams had a 7-1 lead.

Logan Sullo broke up Hodgson's shutout in the eighth as the Academy's all-time home run leader blasted his seventh round-tripper of the season and 17^th of his career with two down. The four-bagger was the only run in the game for the Bucs, who gave up three more in the ninth after back-to-back inning-opening walks set up Borelli for his third-straight hit on the day.

Hodgson (4-4) was superb, throwing 112 pitches in the complete game effort. The southpaw scattered five hits and a single base on balls, whiffing six. Williams and Borelli backed him up with three hits, with the former scoring three times and the Borelli driving in three.

Teehan (4-3) was unlucky in defeat, sending down 11 on strikes and allowing three runs on three free passes and only four hits in seven frames. Thoener and Wyatt Major finished off the game. No Buccaneer had more than one hit, though Billy Keane reached base twice on a single and Hodgson's sole walk.

Both teams advance to Westfield State University, host of the MASCAC Baseball Championship, with FSU drawing the home side, which defeated Salem State 13-6 this afternoon. Before those two nines battle at 12:30, the Buccaneers (18-14) will take on Salem (21-17) at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Make sure to bookmark www.mmabucs.com for more on the run to the MASCAC title and get the inside scoop on Facebook and Twitter @mmabuccaneers. Plus, check out our new Instagram @massmaritimebuccaneers.

Gabriel Fidler, Sports Information Associate