Vikings Split With Buccaneers on Senior Day

SALEM, Mass. – Brodey Tinkham (Norton, Mass.) threw a complete game shutout as Mass Maritime shutout Salem State 4-0 in the opening game of their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at The Central Campus Baseball Field. The Vikings bounced back with a 5-1 win in game two to salvage a split as Kyle Banche (Torrington, Conn.) earned the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Salem State now stands at 17-17 and 8-10 in the MASCAC while the Buccaneers go to 21-14 and 13-5 in the conference.

Salem State honored seniors Matthew Cesare (North Caldwell, N.J.), Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.), Carl Beatrice (Wilmington, Mass.), Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) and John Mondello (Gloucester, Mass.) in a pre-game ceremony for their commitment to the Vikings; baseball program.

Game One

Tinkham allowed just three hits over the first four innings, finishing with six hits allowed and four strikeouts and two walks issued in an efficient performance. Zach Sylvia (Brockton, Mass.) gave Mass Maritime a 1-0 lead in the third on a groundball base hit to left. The Buccaneers tacked on three more in the fourth to go on top 4-0. Tucker Leslie (Mashpee, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run. Alex Schlapak (Dover, N.H.) followed with a two run single off reliever Greg Gentle (Arlington, Mass.), who replaced starter Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.). Pare lasted 3.2 inningd, allowing six hits, four runs with three walks and four strikeouts. Tinkham allowed just one base runner over the final two innings to secure the win.

Game Two

Salem State used five pitchers to defeat Mass Maritime in game two. Mason Consigli (Northbridge, Mass.) earned the start and went 4.0 innings, allowing just a run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts for the Vikings. The Buccaneers struck first again, scoring on a  sacrifice fly by A.J. Luciano (Lynn, Mass.). Salem State countered in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice on a single by TJ Beninati (Suffren, N.Y.) and a double by Matthew Cesare (North Caldwell, N.J.). Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.) faced one batter in the fifth before Banche replaced him. Banche blanked Mass Maritme, giving up just three hits while recording three strikeouts. 

Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) and Beninati extended the lead to 4-0 in the third as Catalano drove home Traverse Briana (Peabody, Mass.) on a base hit while Beninati knocked in Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.) with a double.

A Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) sacrifice fly in the fourth put the Vikings on top 5-1. Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) and Boucher closed out the win, combining for 1.1 scoreless innings on the mound.

Hunter Dean (Plymouth, Mass.) took the loss, going 5.1 innings and giving up five runs on 10 hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Piroh, Catalano, Beninati and Cesare all finished 2-for-3. Beninati had a double with two RBI and a run scored. Schlapak and Sylva each collected three hits apiece for the Buccaneers.