By Michael Letendre
STORRS – Maybe a big victory on the road is exactly what will jumpstart the baseball squad over at Bristol Eastern.
And pitching ace Ryan Maglio helped to make that happen on Tuesday, throwing a complete game, two-run, six-hit gem as the Lancers downed Edwin O. Smith by a 7-2 final from Farrell Field Park in Mansfield.
Eastern moved to 4-8 over the winning effort while the Panthers fell to 6-8.
Maglio struck out seven and walked just three – getting stronger as the game went on.
He retired the final seven batters he faced and held the home team to just single runs in both the third and fourth frames.
On the flip side, a five run third inning was all the offense the Kingstreeters needed to wrangle up win number four.
Offensively, Eastern’s Ben D’Amato had three hits, including a double, while driving in four runs and Jaydon Churchill added two hits, scored twice, and drove in two runs.
Defensively, Cole Latko made a couple outstanding plays in the field as the Lancers were sharp in support of Maglio.
It was a scoreless game going into the third tilt before the visiting aggression went for five runs.
Eastern’s Conor Cyr, Latko, and Elliot Norris opened the stanza with consecutive singles, loading up the bases with no outs.
Churchill then sent a fly-ball over the left fielder’s head, scoring two, as the Lancers nabbed an early 2-0 edge.
From there, the returning Preston Guarda followed with a walk to reload the bases.
Maglio then added a fielder’s choice RBI groundout which resulted in the game’s third run.
The play at the plate was too late to force out the runner at home and then the throw to get Maglio at first also did not produce an out – making it a 3-0 with more to come.
D’Amato followed with a pop fly single to short left field, scoring the final two runs, as Eastern scooped up 5-0 cushion which was never seriously challenged the rest of the way.
After scoring single runs in both the third and fourth innings, the Panthers still trailed by a 5-2 push.
Maglio ended up walking the leadoff batter in each inning as both runners came home to score.
But the Lancers picked up two insurance runs in the seventh, making it a five run contest once again.
A single from Churchill and an infield error put two on for Eastern to open the seventh.
And both runners scored on D’Amato’s long double to right center as the Lancers eventually wrapped up a 7-2 win in Mansfield.
Upcoming Schedule
The Lancers finish out the week with two huge games, continuing to make its push for the postseason.
On Wednesday, it’s the third straight game for the Lancers as the program travels to Palmer Field for a 4:15 p.m. game against Middletown in a CCC South affair.
And then on Friday, it’s going to be a great afternoon of baseball action as both Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central play games from Muzzy Field.
The Rams start the day at 3:45, taking on Berlin and then in the nightcap – at about 6:30 p.m. – the Kingstreeters battle Plainville in a CCC South tilt.
Originally, Eastern was supposed to open the twin bill but the games between the Bristol programs were later switched.
Bristol Eastern Baseball – CCC Interdivisional Showdown
BRISTOL EASTERN 7, EDWIN O. SMITH 2
from Farrell Field Park, Mansfield
Bristol Eastern (4-8) 005 000 2 – 7 9 1
Edwin O. Smith (6-8) 001 100 0 – 2 6 1
Bristol Eastern: Ryan Maglio & Rio Fernandez; Edwin O. Smith: Nolan Klimkiewicz, Brayden Giller (7) & Colin Shearwright.
WP: Ryan Maglio (Bristol Eastern); LP: Nolan Klimkiewicz (Bristol Eastern).
Bristol Eastern Batting
2B – Ben D’Amato
3B – None
HR – None
Edwin O. Smith Batting
2B – Joey Winakor
3B – None
HR – None
Records: Bristol Eastern 4-8; Edwin O. Smith 6-8.
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