BLICHARZ, ARGEREOW LEAD BATES TO SWEEP OF ENDICOTT

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College baseball team (5-12) swept a doubleheader from Endicott College (9-13) today, winning a 3-2 pitchers' duel in the opener and taking a 10-9 come-from-behind victory in the second game.

In game one, the Bobcats got a second-straight impressive starting performance from junior Drew Blicharz (Rutland, Vt.), who went the distance, allowing just two earned runs on three hits while striking out six Piwer Gull batters and walking one. Blicharz retired the side in order in five innings, getting the benefit of errorless defense from the Bobcats for the first time this season. The Bates offense was provided by first-year catcher Ben Donaldson (Lamoine, Maine), who was 2-3 with a double and an RBI, and senior DH Shirl Penney (Eastport, Maine), who was 1-2 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. Two of Endicott's three hits were solo home runs by first-year catcher Bryan Caruso (Northfield, Mass.), his seventh and eighth of the campaign.

Donaldson was the starting pitcher for Bates in game two, and the Power Gulls' offense jumped on him for four runs each in the first and third innings. The Bobcats were bolstered by senior catcher Dave Argereow (North Yarmouth, Maine), who bashed his first career home run in the bottom of the second, but the Bobcats trailed 8-3 after two and a half innings. Donaldson gave up Caruso's third home run of the day to lead off the fourth inning when he was relieved by junior James Hanley (Pawtucket, R.I.), who came in and shut down the Endicott offense, pitching four innings of scoreless relief, allowing the Bobcats to claw their way back into the game. Trailing 9-4 headed into the bottom of the sixth, nine Bobcats reached base and five scored to even the game at 9-9. Junior Jason Coulie (Manchester, N.H.) hit his second round tripper of the season and 11th of his career in the inning, while sophomore Christian Galligher (Mont Vernon, N.H.) contributed a two-run double. Hanley worked out of a tough situation in the seventh after getting two routine outs. A hot shot to third base and a walk put runners on first and second, followed by a single to left, but sophomore Ben Bines (Lexington, N.H.) notched his fourth outfield assist of the season, gunning down an Endicott runner at the plate to kill the rally.

The Bobcats scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh without benefit of a hit. Sophomore Pat Collins (Walpole, Mass.) led off with a walk. Argereow sacrificed him to second, and with junior Austin Philbin (Clinton, Mass.) at the plate, Power Gull pitcher Eric Constantino (Portsmouth, N.H.) uncorked a wild pitch that didn't get very far from the plate. Collins tested the arm of catcher Caruso, who threw the ball into left field, allowing Collins to get up and score the game-winner.

The Bobcats, who have won their last three games by one run, were paced by Argereow's 3-3 performance with two RBI and two runs scored, while Coulie and Galligher each drove in two runs as well. Endicott second baseman Dave Constantino (Seabrook, N.H.) went 3-4 with two RBI and a double in the losing cause.

Game 1
Bates 3, Endicott 2

                 1 2 3   4 5 6   7       R   H   E 
Endicott (9-12)  0 0 0   1 0 0   1   -   2   3   1
Bates (4-12)     0 1 0   1 1 0   X   -   3   8   0  

Batting
LOB - E, 1. B, 7.
2B - B - Ben Donaldson.
HR - E - Bryan Caruso 2 (7, 8)
CS - B - Jason Coulie (by Caruso).
SH - B - Austin Philbin, Scott McAuliffe. SF - B, Christian Galligher.

Pitching
E - Rod Amidon and Bryan Caruso.
B - Drew Blicharz and Ben Donaldson

W - Blicharz (2-2)
L - Amidon (2-4)

Game 2
Bates 10, Endicott 9


                 1 2 3   4 5 6   7        R   H   E 
Endicott (9-13)  4 0 4   1 0 0   0    -   9  11   3
Bates (5-12)     0 2 1   1 0 5   1    -  10  12   1

Batting
2B - E - Dave Constantino, Santi DeOlio. B - Shirl Penney, Christian
Galligher
3B - E - Nathan Burnett.
HR - E - Bryan Caruso (9). B, Jason Coulie, Dave Argereow. 
HBP - E - Brian Devereaux (by Donaldson) B - Matt Pound (by Cameron)
SH - B - Argereow.
SB - E - Devereaux. B - Coulie
CS - E - Burnett (by Argereow). B - Coulie (by Burnett).

Pitching
E - Tony Cameron, Josh Koziol (6), Eric Constantino (6) and Bryan Caruso.
B - Ben Donaldson, James Hanley (4) and Dave Argereow.

W - Hanley (1-1)
L - E. Constantino (n/a)