Lions Pull Away Late for 13-5 Win Over Vikings

SALEM, Mass. - Josue Basilis (Bronx, N.Y.) went 3-4, scored three runs and drove in three runs as the Eastern Nazarene Lions scored nine runs over the final two innings to pull away for a 13-5 victory over the Salem State Vikings on Tuesday at the Central Campus Baseball Field. Eastern Nazarene improves to 8-4 with the win. Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) and Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) each homered for Salem State who slip to 5-5 on the year.

In the first inning, Anthony Esposito (Mount Royal, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and Zachary Carmody (Babylon, N.Y.) followed with a base hit to left field. Joshua Bombard (Rutland, Mass.) hit a ground ball, but reached first base off a JP Reiling (Nahant, Mass.) error. With the bases loaded, Dylan Louviaux (Mohnton, Pa.) ripped an RBI-single to left, scoring Esposito to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Briana singled to left field and Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) plated both with a two-run home run to left.

In the bottom of the fifth, James Baxter's (Winthrop, Mass.) sacrifice bunt advanced runners to second and third. Pat Fitzgerald's (Auburn, Mass.) sacrifice fly scored Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) putting Salem State back up 3-2. Brendan Greene (Winchester, Mass.) then added a double to drive in Luke Eggers (Duxbury, Mass.) giving the Vikings a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Lions scored two runs to tie the score. Louviaux walked and Hunter Leroux-Porter (Greenland, N.H.) doubled to left center. Matthew Urena (Flushing, N.Y.) then hit a single, bringing home Louviaux. With one out, Basilis grounded out to score Leroux-Porter, who tied the game at 4-4. 

In the top of the eighth, Eastern Nazaren scored four times to open up an 8-4 lead. Esposito singled to center field and Basilis and Leroux-Porter both came home as Eastern Nazarene went up 6-4. Pesce added a two-run triple to left field as the Lions built an 8-4 cushion.

Briana answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Vikings behind 8-5. 

However, in the ninth, Basilis drove in two runs with a single to extend the lead to 10-5. Simpson's single knocked in both Basilis and Urena, who made it home, pushing the lead to 12-5. Simpson later scored to make it 13-5. 

For Salem State, Reiling pitched 5.1 innings, and had two strikeouts with one earned run. Joshua Bell (Uxbridge, Mass.) took the loss after pitching 0.1 innings, giving up four earned runs. 

For Eastern Nazarene, Brandon Imonti (Tewksbury, Mass.) went five innings, and recorded three strikeouts, with four earned runs allowed. Tommy Merrick (Brockton, Mass.) was credited with the win in two innings of relief, allowing just ine earned run.

Salem State managed just six hits on the afternoon, with four of those being extra-base hits.