Anna Maria Sweeps Baseball, 2-1 and 9-4

PAXTON, Mass. – The Anna Maria College baseball team received solid performances from starters Jim McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) and Zach Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) en route to a sweep of the Wentworth Institute of Technology at Assumption College's Rocheleau Field on Saturday afternoon. The pair of victories improve the AMCATS to 20-12 (13-7 TCCC) on the season, while the Leopards fall to 17-9 (10-4 TCCC).
 
McNamara delivered one of his best performances of the season in game one, allowing just three hits and one run while going the distance for his fourth win of the year. Rafferty followed with an equally impressive start, striking out 10 batters while allowing just one run over six strong innings, evening his record to 3-3 on the season. Offensively, the AMCATS were paced by sophomore Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, Conn.) who led all players with four hits and three runs scored on the day. Senior mike Galvin (Rutland, Mass.) also played well, going 3-for-7 in the double-dip, while junior Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) had two RBI's and two runs scored.
 
Junior Conner Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.) paced Wentworth's offense with three runs batted while collecting two hits in the twinbill. Senior Matt Jordan (Concord, N.H.) and sophomore Ryan Delgado (Wareham, Mass.) also chipped in with two hits apiece on the day.
 
The AMCATS jumped on the board first in the opener with a run in the second inning. McNamara and senior Jeff Kodys (Holden, Mass.) got things started with back-to-back singles to open the frame before sophomore Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman John Sullivan (Southbury, Conn.) then delivered an RBI-single through the left side to give Anna Maria the 1-0 lead.
 
The AMCATS struck again in the third, adding one run on two hits. Galvin beat out an infield single to deep short and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by senior Andy Fallon (Worcester, Mass.). Scafidi then brought home the run with an RBI-double down the left field line to expand the AMC lead to 2-0.
 
That was all the support that McNamara needed, allowing just one run on a fielder's choice by Flisnik that knocked in Jordan, who had reached on a double. Wentworth had the tying run in scoring position with one out in the seventh as senior Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from classmate Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J.).  However, McNamara got a ground out and a flyout to end the game.

Senior Doug Papuga (Branford, Conn.) suffered his first loss of 2011 (4-1), surrendering two runs on six hits, while striking out three in six innings of work.
 
In game two, the AMCATS jumped out to a 7-0 advantage, scoring two runs in the first, two runs in the third, and three more in the fifth. Guarnieri delivered a run scoring single in the first, an RBI double by Kodys in the third, and a two-run double down the right field line by shortstop Carlos Ortiz (Worcester, Mass.) in the fifth to help build the lead.
 
Zach Rafferty held the Leopards in check, allowing just one run while striking out 10 batters and not walking a batter. Wentworth would rally for three runs in the top of the seventh, including a two-out, two-run single by Flisnik, but a strikeout left a pair of runners on to end the game.

Junior Adam Farrar (Newport, Vt.) suffered the loss (3-3) for the Leopards, as he allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out six batters.  Offensively, Wentworth was paced by Flisnik's 2-4, three RBI performance.
 
Both clubs return to conference action with doubleheaders on Sunday, as the Leopards travel to face Nichols at 1:00 pm, and the AMCATS host Salve Regina at noon.

-Portions of this release courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information-

Anna Maria 2, Wentworth 1 (04/16/11 at Worcester, Mass.) (Game 1)
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Wentworth........... 000 100 0 -  1  3  0      (17-8, 12-7 TCCC)
Anna Maria.......... 011 000 X -  2  6  1      (19-12, 10-3 TCCC)
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Pitchers: Wentworth - Papuga and Delgado. Anna Maria - McNamara and Kodys.
Win-McNamara (4-3); Loss-Doug Papuga (4-1); T-1:28

Anna Maria 9, Wentworth 4 (04/16/11 at Worcester, Mass.) (Game 2)
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Wentworth........... 000 001 3 -  4  7  2      (17-9, 10-4 TCCC)
Anna Maria.......... 202 032 X -  9 10  1      (20-12, 13-7 TCCC)
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Pitchers: Wentworth - Farrar; McCubrey (6) and Delgado. Anna Maria - Rafferty; Henderson (7) and Doyle.
Win-Rafferty (3-3); Loss-Farrar (2-3); T-2:06; A-35