BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The Colby-Sawyer baseball team kicked off the season in style on Friday night defeating Massachusetts Maritime Academy in both games. The Chargers won the first game by a 15-10 final before closing out the night on top by a 7-6 margin. This is the first time since March 9th of 2013 that the Chargers started the baseball season 2-0. 
 
Rapid Recap Game 1 (15-10):

• The Buccaneers started off the game with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Chargers bats came alive in the second getting eight runs on four hits. It started with a double by graduate student Cooper O'Brien (Vergennes, Vt.) to push first year Evan Dennis (East Ryegate, Vt.) to third. After another Charger walk, senior Jack Matarese (Ashland, Mass.) walked to knot the game at 1-1. Sophomore Jared Schmitt (Surry, N.H.) was next with a two RBI single, followed by another two RBI double by sophomore Cam Carignan (Rutland, Mass.) to extend the lead to 5-1. O'Brien added the explanation point to the inning with a two-run no doubter to extend the lead to 8-1. 
• The Bucs added another run in the bottom of the second, but another huge seven run inning from Colby-Sawyer followed to push the lead to 15-2. Carignan added the first RBI lacing his second double to deep right-center to score Schmitt. Sophomore Dylan Watson (Byfield, Mass.) followed it up with a single into left to bring in Carignan. Watson would eventually steal home to bring the lead to 11-2. Sophomore Devin Montalvo (Coram, N.Y.) produced the next RBI walking with the bases loaded, followed quickly by a bases clearing double by sophomore Janai Cruz (Manchester, N.H.) to extend the Charger lead to 15-2. 
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy continued to chip away with two runs in the third and fourth with a two-run blast for AJ Pietrafes to cut the deficit to 15-6. The Buccaneers would get another three runs in the sixth inning on four hits and a single run in the seventh, but the Chargers held on for the 15-10 win in game one. 

On the Mound:

• Senior Zach Rogers (Mashpee, Mass.) got the start going an inning of work before leaving due to injury. Rogers ended the game with a pair of strikeouts and an earned run on two walks. Sophomore Will Carpenter (Medfield, Mass.) earned his first collegiate win tossing three innings of work allowing five runs all earned with a punch out. Sophomore Justin Powers (Peabody, Mass.) closed out the game going the other three innings picking up his first collegiate save. Powers allowed four runs all earned with a strikeout in the win. 

At the Plate:

• Cruz led the offense in the first game going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a double and a run scored. O'Brien also had a big opener going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two runs-batted-in on the homer. Carignan tallied a 2-for-5 performance with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Schmitt added a 2-for-3 outing with two runs scored and a pair of ribbys.

Rapid Recap Game 2 (7-6):

• The bats stayed hot for the visitors coming into the second game as the Chargers quickly got two runs in the top half of the first inning. Sophomore Nick Johnson (Manchester, N.J.) started things off with a rocket single to score Watson, before Dennis picked up his first collegiate hit with a RBI double to deep right field. Mass. Maritime added a single run in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch strikeout to cut the lead in half. 
• In the top half of the third the Chargers added some insurance as Montalvo doubled to right center scoring Johnson and Dennis. First year Noah Staffier (Beverly, Mass.) added an RBI single to extend the lead further to 5-1. The fourth inning included another deep shot by O'Brien to push the Charger lead to 6-1 headed into the bottom of the fourth. 
• The Chargers bullpen did its thing holding the lead into the sixth inning where the Buccaneers bats woke back up to even the score in the inning on three hits. Junior Erik Rohs (Lovettsville, Va.) got a crucial out with the bases loaded to keep the score at 6-6 headed into the final inning. 
• In the seventh inning the Chargers got the go ahead run without registering a hit as junior Griffin Wheeler (Penacook, N.H.) walked to bring in Staffier. In the bottom of the frame Watson closed the door to give the Chargers the sweep. 

On the Mound:

• Junior Jack Mullen (Norfolk, Mass.) started the game for the Chargers tossing three innings allowing a single run on three hits and four walks, while striking out five. Junior Josh Finkle (Littleton, N.H.) and junior Kam Lovelette (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) each added clean innings of work combining for three strikeouts. First year Colin Burchard (Upton, Mass.) allowed five runs in his first collegiate outing while striking out two. Rohs picked up the win registering the key out, while Watson go the save not allowing a single run.

At the Plate:

• Staffier ended his first collegiate game perfect going 2-for-2 with a RBI, run scored and a walk in the win. Johnson added a 3-for-4 performance with a pair of runs scored and a ribby. Montalvo and Dennis each added doubles in their 2-for-4 performances, while O'Brien launched his second homer of the season in the second win. 

Post Game Press:
"Today was a great day for the team", said graduate student Cooper O'Brien (Vergennes, Vt.). "We had a great all around win, everyone came to play. We were clutch when it counted. On to the next."

"Huge team wins today", said first year Noah Staffier (Beverly, Mass.). "Our energy was high all 14 innings and we just went out there and had fun."

Up Next:
The Chargers will head to Myrtle Beach for 10 games over seven days from March 9th to March 16th.

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