03/26/2009
DeLorenzo Leads Baseball Past Framingham, 3-2

WORCESTER, MASS. 3/26/09 - Freshman Mitch DeLorenzo (Berlin, Conn.) smacked a bases loaded two-run double into left field to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as Clark University came from behind to post a thrilling 3-2 non-conference baseball victory over Framingham State College on Thursday afternoon at Granger Field.

Clark wins its second straight and improved to 8-10 overall. Framingham dropped to 3-9 on the season.

Trailing 2-1 with one out in the ninth, pinch-hitter Joe Krahe (Fairfield, Conn.) lined the first pitch he saw to left field to give Clark a chance. After Ram pitcher Bart Venza (East Rockaway, N.Y.) got the next batter to fly out, Scott Hollingsworth (Tilton, N.H.) and Phil DiMarco (Bellingham, Mass.) earned consecutive walks to load the bases. DeLorenzo, who started at third base for just the second time this season, found the perfect time to collect his first hit of the day. He hit a 1-2 offering to the left field fence to deliver Hollingsworth with the winning run.

Junior Brendan Solecki (Portsmouth, R.I.) picked up his first win of the season hurling 1.1 innings in relief. Clark starter Greg Long (Milford, Mass.) allowed two runs on five hits and struckout one in 7.2 innings on the mound.

Venza, who entered the game in the seventh, was tagged with the loss for Framingham.

The Rams took a 1-0 lead on sophomore Joe Sheehan's (Burlington, Mass.) RBI double in the first inning.

Clark got on the board in the fourth when junior Steve DeMartino (East Haven, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, stole second and came around on Matt Tillo's (Osterville, Mass.) hit to centerfield to make it a 1-1 game.

After Dave Leach (Chelmsford, Mass.) reached on a Clark error to lead off the eighth, he moved to second on Jason Hutchinson's (Kingston, Mass.) sacrifice bunt. A batter later, Leach scored on Ryan McCarthy's (Shrewsbury, Mass.) double to left field to give the Rams a 2-1.

But Clark rallied in the ninth to win the game.

Hollingsworth went 3-for-3 to lead the Cougars. DeMartino had two hits to round out Clark's multiple hitters.

McCarthy and Sheehan each had two hits and an RBI to pace Framingham.

Clark will host Coast Guard Academy in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Saturday (Noon). -30-