Box Score
DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team (6-2) defeated Benedictine University (IL) (6-7) on its second gameday of their spring trip at Northeast Regional Park. Yesterday, the Warriors won both of their matches in the doubleheader against SUNY Brockport, allowing just six runs over the two games. In this morning's game, Eastern made it 3-0 in Davenport, building up a 5-0 lead before their opponents were able to get on the board.

The victory was the 100^th against 42 losses for fourth-year head coach Mike Odenwaelder.

Starting pitcher Jack Hawes (Orange) flew through the first two innings, retiring all six batters he faced. In the bottom of those innings, the Warriors punished Benedictine's Matthew Purta. Hank Penders (Wethersfield) singled and scored in the bottom of the first, giving Eastern a 1-0 lead after one. In the bottom of the second, four runs came across, including a two-run home run from Ian Moser (Bellingham, MA), Eastern's first of the Florida trip.
 
Benedictine found success in the top of the third after two errors by the Warriors' defense allowed Brayden Fell to score. Fell moved from first to third on a throwing error after his infield single and a failed pickoff attempt by Hawes on the mound. In the next inning, the Eagles tacked on another run, scoring Nic Castrovillari without recording a hit.
 
Eastern's insurance was brought to them by J.T. Clark (Bristol), whose two-run shot to right center gave the Warriors two home runs on the day, increasing their lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Moser came across for an eighth Warrior run after a wild pitch from Ryan Uscila. In the sixth, Teige Kimbler (Albany, NY) put the game to bed, sending another ball over the right fielder's head and giving Eastern an 11-2 lead with four innings to play.
 
Three runs were brought back by the Eagles in the top of the seventh, as Justin Noonenmann's double down the right field line brought in two. Eastern responded once again in the bottom of the inning with Cameron Forte (Easton) this time, who hit the Warriors fourth and final home run and replenishing an eight-run lead at 13-5.
 
Noonenmann had another RBI in the top of the ninth, reloading the bases at 13-6 with just one out. Brayden Fell hit a hard ball into center field and the diving Danny DiNorcia (Naples, FL) was unable to come up with the highlight play. With the ball rolling back to the fence, Fell slid for home and was able to score an inside-the-park grand slam for Benedictine and bring his team back within three runs. Brendan Kelly (Farmington) was able to retire the last two batters and secure the win for Eastern.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Wednesday for a 7-inning doubleheader against Worcester State University at Northeast Regional Park Field #3 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern is 20-3 all-time against Worcester State, having last played in 2023. The Lancers have not defeated the Warriors since 2006. After a day off tomorrow, Eastern will play their last two games in Davenport on Wednesday, before taking on Ramapo College for a single game at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, FL.