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Baseball Walks to Wild Win Over Career After Losing Two

After losses to SCC Quinnipiac Division opponents Xavier (7-2) on April 22 and Notre Dame-West Haven (6-2) on April 24, the Indians’ baseball squad defeated Oronoque opponent Career in a come-from-behind 10-9 decision on April 26 making Guilford 6-5 on the campaign.

Against the Falcons, J.P. Peters had a hit and two RBI for Guilford. Xavier scored seven runs in the fourth after a triple and a double to start the inning, while a couple of walks and singles led to Xavier’s runs.

Facing the Green Knights, Mike Afeltra had an RBI double for the Indians. Notre Dame scored two runs in the bottom of the first after a couple of Nick Rubino walks and a single. Guilford answered in the top of the second with a run, but in the third Rubino walked the bases loaded to start the inning. He was relieved by Luke Nerney, who did his best to limit the damage. The Green Knights got an infield single, a sacrifice fly, and scored two more runs on a botched first-and-third play that scored two runs for a total of four runs-giving Notre Dame a 6-1 command before Afeltra would hit an RBI double in the seventh for the Indians’ second tally.

Versus Career in Guilford’s win of the week, Zach Battipaglia went 2-for-3 with three RBI, Potocsny hit 2-3 for two RBI, and P.J. Ciocca was 3-for-4.

Guilford jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Ciocca reached second on an error by the right fielder and scored on a Battipaglia RBI single, but Career came back in the third with five runs off starting pitcher Ryan Fraser.

With one out, Dante Parisi called off Battipaglia for a fly ball and made an error. After a walk, Career hit three singles to score those five runs, yet Guilford would get runs back in the third and fourth to make it 5-3.

Career added a run off Nerney in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead before Battipaglia then came up with another big hit in a two-RBI double down the left field line making it 6-5. Guilford would tie it in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and runners at the corners, for Ciocca left first base early and stayed in a rundown, while Ben Monte stole home plate to tie the score.

Career would again take the lead in the seventh when reliever Ford Linell walked the leadoff batter, as he then made a throwing error on a pickoff play and the runner moved up to second. He was relieved by CJ Anthony.

Anthony got an out at first as Career bunted, the infield then came in and the next batter smashed a ball up the middle, but was robbed by Matt Brockett, who checked the runner at third and threw to first for the second out. After a long 3-2 battle to the next hitter, the Panthers scored the go-ahead run on a single. They would add two on a single to take a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Guilford went to work in the seventh- Parisi led off with a walk prior to Monte reaching on an error after a Peters’ hard line drive almost turned into a double play. Ciocca singled to regain Guilford's momentum and load the bags. With Chris Rodgers pinch running for Ciocca, Potocsny then laced a double to the fence over the infield’s head to score Parisi and Monte. Head Coach Brian Hayden waived Rodgers home, yet he was thrown out at the plate on a great relay. After TJ Williams and Battipaglia walked, Brockett worked a two-out game-tying free pass before Afeltra brought home the winning run with a walk-off walk.

“I told our guys on offense that today was their turn to bail the pitchers out,” commented Hayden. “For whatever reason today, we couldn't execute our off-speed pitches and it made us easy to swing off of. I am proud of the guys on offense today because they never tried to do too much, they stayed patient and in the end it paid off.”