Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Bates sophomore righthander Sean VanderVliet (Meriden, N.H.) tossed a three-hitter as the Bates College baseball team defeated Trinity College 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Junior OF Rob Schuler (Hanover, Mass.) drove in sophomore OF Alex Maulucci (Avon, Conn.) on an RBI single for the clinching run in the top of the seventh inning.
Bates squandered a four-run lead two times in the second game, losing 11-10 as Bantams sophomore SS Tom DiBenedetto (Fort Myers, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, including the game-winner on a throwing error.
Trinity, ranked No. 7 in New England, is now 16-8 overall and 6-3 in the NESCAC East, while the Bobcats are 5-9 overall and 1-5 in the division.
VanderVliet (1-1) pitched the complete game with seven innings, allowing just one run while walking four and striking out three for his first victory this season. Sophomore Casey McCormack (Keene, N.H.), sophomore Alex Egelson (Fairfield, Conn.) and senior Donovan Driscoll (Braintree, Mass.) each had two of Bates' 11 hits in the game.
Trinity sophomore RHP Michael Regan (West Roxbury, Mass.) allowed two runs and struck out three in six-plus innings to take the loss.
In the second game, Trinity came back from a 4-1 deficit to take a 6-4 lead after six innings, including four on a pinch-hit grand slam by sophomore OF Steve Dilanian (Needham, Mass.), but Bates rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh frame. Driscoll provided a two-run double in the inning. Trinity answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh frame, including two on a single by freshman C Sean Killeen (Greenfield, Mass.) to tie the game at 10-10.
DiBenedetto walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, advanced to second on a single by senior captain 1B Erik Paisley (Bethesda, Md.), and advanced two bases on a wild pitch and a throwing error. Trinity freshman lefty Eric McGrath (Lynn, Mass.) pitched five outs of scoreless relief to earn the win on the mound and senior RHP Gabe Rotman (Arlington, Mass.) got the last two outs to record a save.
Egelson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored for Bates. Driscoll was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Schuler was 1-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Sophomore Brian Buckley (Andover, Mass.) had an RBI and a pair of runs, and sophomore Brian Mahoney (Duxbury, Mass.) scored a run and drove in two. Junior Griffin Finan (Bethesda, Md.) started the game, pitched 5 2/3 innings and was charged with the loss.
Bates plays at Thomas College on Monday at 2 p.m.
