The Northeastern men’s baseball team (8-5, 0-0 CAA) defeated the San Diego State Aztecs (4-13, 0-0 Mountain West) in a weekend sweep in San Diego March 7 to 9.
The Huskies took the first matchup of the weekend 10-4, March 7.
Junior infielder Carmelo Musacchia began the day with a leadoff triple to right field in the top of the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Ryan Gerety’s groundout to shortstop brought Musacchia home and put Northeastern’s first run on the board, 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, San Diego sophomore outfielder Drew Rutter tripled down the left field line and was driven in by junior infielder Nevan Noonan to even the score at 1-1 for the Aztecs.
The top of the third inning saw the Huskies score four runs off of four hits and two stolen bases. Redshirt freshman catcher Will Fosberg hit a 2-run home-run that put his team up 5-1.
Two stolen bases by Musacchia and a single by graduate student first baseman Alex Lane saw Northeastern go up 7-1 in the top of the fourth inning. The Aztecs answered with a run that ended graduate student left-handed pitcher Jordan Gottesman’s game in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Redshirt junior outfielder Harrison Feinberg homered to left field in the top of the fifth inning, making the score 8-2.
The Huskies put up two more runs and stolen bases in the top of the sixth inning that extended the team’s lead to 10-2.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, junior right-handed pitcher James Morice went in to close out the game. His appearance began with a hit-by-pitch and double that drove in the Aztecs’ third run, 10-3. A throwing error by senior third baseman Jack Doyle allowed SDSU to score its fourth and final run of the day, rounding out scoring at 10-4. Morice issued a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the game.
Northeastern took both games of March 8’s double-header, 9-6 and 12-9 respectively.
Junior infielder Jack Goodman opened the scoring with a three-run home run in the top of the first inning, putting the Huskies up 3-0. Feinberg recorded his second homer of the weekend to extend the lead to 4-0 after one.
Doubles by Noonan and freshman outfielder CJ Moran cut Northeastern’s lead in half in the bottom of the first inning, 4-2.
SDSU evened the score sheet at 4-4 in the bottom of the second inning off a double, stolen base and single to drive two runs in.
A two run shot from junior outfielder Cam Maldonado gave the Huskies the lead in the top of the fifth inning. A fielding error by Gerety allowed two Aztecs to score and a single put them ahead 7-6 in the bottom of the inning.
Northeastern’s final two runs came off of another two run homer by Maldonado. Senior right-handed pitcher Jack Beauchesne closed out the game, giving his team the 9-6 victory.
The Huskies kept rolling in the second game of the double-header, taking the team’s second series win of the season.
Maldonado’s third home run of the weekend put Northeastern up 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Noonan and Moran combined with a double and a single to answer back in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Aztecs put up two runs, giving the team a 3-2 lead.
A fielding error, a hit-by-pitch, three stolen bases and a single from Gerety saw the Huskies score three runs in the top of the sixth inning to swing the game back in the Huskies’ favor 5-3.
SDSU leveled the scoresheet once again in the bottom of the seventh inning from sophomore infielder Finley Bates’ two-RBI single to left-center field.
Both teams failed to bring in a run for the remainder of the game, keeping the score equal at 5-5 and sending the contest into extra innings.
The Huskies and the Aztecs both scored two runs in the 11th inning taking the game to 12 innings for the game to be decided. Freshman outfielder Carter Bentley doubled down the left field line to bring in the two runners already on base, putting his team out to a 9-7 lead. Musacchia notched another bases-clearing double to give the Huskies the win in both the game and the series. Gerety’s fly-out to right field allowed an insurance run to be scored, 12-7.
SDSU scored two runs in the 12th inning, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit and the game finished at 12-9.
Northeastern took the final game of the weekend March 9, 8-5.
For the fourth time this weekend, the Huskies got on the board first, going up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
The Aztecs struck back in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits off senior left-handed pitcher Jack Bowery, taking a 3-1 lead.
Not to be outdone, Northeastern took its lead back in the top of the fourth inning. A fielding error, hit-by-pitch and a walked batter made the score 4-3.
Both teams recorded two runs in the seventh inning, maintaining the Huskies’ lead at 6-5.
With his fourth home run of the series, Maldonado secured his team’s victory with a two run shot in the top of the eighth inning, 8-5.
Junior right-handed pitcher Charlie Walker retired all three batters he faced in the eighth inning and allowed one hit in the ninth to close out the game with a Huskies victory.
Northeastern will take on the Bryant University Bulldogs (5-7-1, 0-0 America East) in a mid-week contest March 12 in Smithfield, R.I. before playing its home opener against Harvard University March 15 at 11:30 a.m.
