CORTLAND, N.Y. -- For the first time in program history Salve Regina baseball advances to an NCAA super regional after beating the Washington & Jefferson University Presidents at host SUNY Cortland's Robert H. Wallace '53 Field on Sunday.
Washington & Jefferson entered today's game with a loss and two wins in the regional. On Friday, May 17, the Presidents lost to Cortland University. Yesterday they came back to shutout Colby College 7-0 and beat Cortland 3-1, ending both teams' runs in the NCAAs. The Presidents were the national runners up in 2017.
To start the game Washington & Jefferson managed two home runs in the first inning to bring the Presidents to an early 3-0 lead. Still trailing 3-0 in the top of the third inning the Seahawks posted an impressive double play when Presidents' Drew Garth (Mars, Pa.) grounded to Christian Homa (Fairfield, Conn.) and with a quick throw to Michael Breen (Auburn, Mass) and Tyler Cannoe (Schenectady, N.Y. ) the leading runner was caught.
The bottom of the third inning brought up Brandon Grover (Ashland, Mass.) who doubled to get on base and Homa's single that followed brought a run across the plate. Cannoe hit his second home run of 2024, a two-run bomb, tying the game at 3-3 in a successful third inning. Cannoe's prior home run came on April 27, in Salve Regina's 20-0 Emerson College shutout.
The turning point came in the fourth inning for the team from Newport. With the bases loaded Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) reached base on a fielder's choice and Brady Smolinski advanced home from third. Breen, who initially reached base on a Presidents' fielding error also crossed the plate after Homa's groundout and Salve Regina was ahead 5-3.
The Seahawks notched seven more runs in the remaining innings, including two more Seahawk home runs by Cannoe and Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) respectively to make the final score 12-3.
Starting pitcher Joe DeRienzo (Trumbull, Conn.) faced 19 batters and threw 65 pitches. Kyle Carozza entered in relief in the sixth inning.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.