ARNOLD, MD – Anne Arundel Community College's men's baseball team picked up a key conference divisional win over Cecil College Wednesday afternoon. The 3-1 victory over the NJCAA DII Region XX Seahawks of Cecil will help boost the Riverhawks' seeding in the upcoming Region XX Tournament.
Although the Riverhawk offense struggled to give AACC pitcher Dustin Gosnell much support early on during the windy afternoon, Gosnell didn't need it. The Seahawks would score a run in the top of the 2nd inning, but great fielding and the pitching by Gosnell wouldn't allow anything further.
The seemingly quick innings of the tight 1-0 game (in favor of the Seahawks) finally turned for AACC in the bottom of the 6th, as Mark Scarlas, Samuel Ryan, and Jacob Turpin all grabbed hits to load the bases.
With Nathaniel Anthony at bat with one out – the Seahawks would walk the tying run. Seahawks were able to make the double play off next batter Andrew Dinko to get out of the tight situation but the damage was done, score tied at 1-1.
Top of the 7th - Gosnell, backed by some excellent fielding, continued to refuse the Seahawks from regaining the lead.
Bottom of the 7th - Hit by Griffin Devlin, walks for Ryan Richardson and Matthew Semanick had bases loaded for Mark Scarlas. With four home runs on the season, the Seahawks decided on a pitching change for facing Scarlas.
An excellent coaching call, followed by textbook execution; Scarlas' suicide squeeze bunt drove Devlin home from 3rd – Riverhawks claimed the lead at 2-1.
Through 8 innings, Gosnell threw nine strikeouts, and allowed only four hits with one run against 29 batters.
Turpin would lead off the bottom of the 8th with a solo homerun (his 5th of the season) before the Seahawks were able to end the inning.
Looking to close it out and secure the win, Brady Helinksi would take the mound in the 9th for the Riverhawks. Striking out a batter and relying on his fielders to make plays; like Sam Ryan with an excellent hustle play, diving and catching a foul ball – Helinksi would close it out, earning the save. Gosnell would get the well-deserved win.
Final Score – Riverhawks 3, Seahawks of Cecil 1.
The Riverhawks have another single game today (5/4) at Mercer County Community College (3:30 pm start time) before returning home for their last regularly scheduled home game on Saturday (5/6) – another conference divisional match-up for a double header against the Region XX Cougars of Frederick Community College.