The Northeastern men’s baseball team (1-1, 0-0 CAA) split its opening weekend matchup against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers (2-1, 0-0 American) Feb. 14. The Huskies lost the first game 6-1 and won the second 3-1.
Graduate student right-handed pitcher Mike Szturma started on the mound for the 49ers in the opening game of the double-header. Northeastern’s junior infielder Carmelo Musacchia began the day with a lead-off single. Musacchia was caught stealing by redshirt sophomore catcher Logan Poteet.
In the second inning, the Huskies notched their first run of the season, courtesy of graduate student catcher Gregory Bozzo, putting them up 1-0. Redshirt junior Harrison Feinberg doubled to right field and Bozzo sent him home with an RBI single.
The Huskies would slide from there, logging just three hits in the remaining six innings.
The 49ers leveled the score in the bottom of the second after junior first-baseman Cody Gunderson tripled to left-center field and a ground out allowed him to score.
Junior right-handed pitcher Aiven Cabral walked sophomore outfielder Johnny Sutryk and junior infielder Juan Rivera’s single sent him to third. Graduate student infielder Chandler Riley’s double cleared the bases and put the 49ers up 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, graduate student left-handed pitcher Jordan Gottesman came to pitch in Cabral’s place. Gottesman struck out six straight batters in the fifth and sixth innings.
Senior right-handed pitcher Brett Dunham was called on to pitch in relief of Gottesman in the bottom of the eighth inning. Then, the flood gates opened.
Dunham began his outing with a hit-by-pitch, sending a previously-walked batter to second. Then, with two runners on, sophomore infielder Dawson Bryce hit a three-run home run to widen the score 6-1.
Northeastern failed to score in the ninth inning, finishing the game at 6-1.
The Huskies came out strong in the second game of the Feb. 14 double-header, jumping to an early 2-0 lead.
Musacchia led off with an infield single in the first inning and junior infielder Jack Goodman homered to left-center field.
In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore outfielder Ryan Gerety doubled down the third base line. Following his single to right field, junior outfielder Cam Maldonado reached second on a fielding error, allowing Gerety to score, 3-0.
Graduate student left-handed pitcher Will Jones struck out eight batters and allowed five hits in his six inning showing before being swapped for senior right-handed pitcher Ryan McCarroll. He logged three strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings and allowed two hits. McCarroll gave up a walk to Riley and a double to Poteet when he was pulled in the eighth inning.
Graduate student right-handed pitcher Cooper McGrath came in to pitch for the Huskies at the bottom of the eighth. Gunderson’s single allowed Riley to reach first base. Senior outfielder Carson Bayne brought Riley home on a fielder’s choice play, deciding to get the runner out at third instead of throwing to first.
A new pitcher, two fly outs and a ground out gave the Huskies their 3-1 victory in the second game of the day.
Sunday’s game was canceled due to unplayable field conditions from sustained rain.
Northeastern will take on the Indiana State Sycamores (3-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) in a double header Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.
