WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Arcadia University baseball program swept its Sunday doubleheader at Wilkes to win its first series of the 2021 season, taking down the Colonels by finals of 14-4 and 5-3.
Trevor Mattson capped off the weekend with a 5-for-8 showing at the plate in the doubleheader sweep with a three-run homer in game one followed by a solo shot in the nightcap to lead the offense while the Knights swiped 12 bases between the two games to finish the weekend a perfect 19-for-19 on stolen base attempts.
The Arcadia bullpen was solid in both ends of the doubleheader, combining to throw eight shutout innings and allowing only three hits as
Ross Lawnhurst and
Owen Margolis each picked up a win in relief.
ARCADIA 14, WILKES 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Knights carried the momentum from Saturday's game two right into Sunday's opener, striking for seven runs on seven hits in the top of the first to give Knights starter
Hunter Bogumil more than enough run support before he even took the mound.
Justin Massielo started the scoring with a single to left to plate
Ryan Smolen who was hit by a pitch and stole second to lead off the game, before
Trey Obarowski lined a double to score the Knights' shortstop. Mattson followed by belting a three-run shot to straightaway left to make it a 5-0 advantage before a
Zachary Sekelick RBI single and run-scoring grooundout from Smolen capped the seven-run frame.
-Wilkes chipped away at the Knight lead with two runs in the home half, but an Obarowski sacrifice fly in the next half inning and a pair of unearned runs in the third put the Knights out ahead by six at 10-4. Arcadia plated four more in the fourth to extend its lead to an even ten as
Nick Opalkowski drove in a run with a base knock before
Alex Madera forced in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
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Ross Lawnhurst picked up the win on the mound in relief with two scoreless innings and yielding only two hits while striking out a pair.
Nick D'Apolito and
Trevor Laraia combined to close out the victory for the Knights, each throwing a scoreless and hitless frame.
ARCADIA OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Mattson: 4-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 R
-Obarowski: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
-Opalkowski: 2-4, 2 R, 2 SB, RBI
ARCADIA PITCHING LEADERS
-Lawnhurst: W (1-0), 2 IP, 0 H, 2 K
-D'Apolito: IP, 0 H, 2 K
ARCADIA 5, WILKES 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The backend of Sunday's doubleheader got off to a far different start than game one as only two hitters reached base in the first three innings.
Hunter Curley was sharp in his first start of the 2021 season, retiring nine of the first 11 batters he faced while striking out four. Despite not earning a decision, Curley turned in five innings three-run ball while striking out seven in his season debut.
-Wilkes plated the first run of the game in the home half of the fourth on a fielder's choice, but Mattson answered right back with solo shot in the top of the fifth on the first pitch he saw to even the score at one. The Colonels regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run double and kept the Arcadia lineup in check up until the top of the eighth when
Emilio Pallante led off the frame with a single down the line before moving into scoring position on an errant pickoff attempt. After a groundout moved the Knights' third baseman up to third with one out, infield throwing errors on consecutive plays drew Arcadia even with Wilkes at three. Madera came through to plate Smolen with the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice before Obarowski lined a two-out single back through the middle to plate Madera with the fourth run of the inning, vaulting Arcadia to a 5-3 lead.
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Owen Margolis slammed the door shut on the doubleheader sweep with four strong innings out of the bullpen to pick up the win. Margolis allowed just two baserunners to reach in his relief stint while striking out six.
ARCADIA OFFENSIVE LEADERS
-Mattson: 1-4, Solo HR (2)
-Pallante: 2-3, SB, R
ARCADIA PITCHING LEADERS
-Curley: 5 IP (ND), 3 H, 3 R, 7 K
-Margolis: W (1-0), 4 IP, H, 6 K
UP NEXT
Arcadia (3-1) starts a four-game set with Stevens Saturday from Skip Wilson Field. First pitch of game one is slated for noon.
