FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 16, 2022) – The USMMA baseball team played its second top-five nationally-ranked team in two weeks on Wednesday, falling to #4 Eastern Connecticut State, 7-6, in 11 innings at the Player Development Complex Field #5. The loss drops the Mariners' record to 3-6, while the Warriors improve to 7-0 with the victory.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

Game Highlights

• The Mariners grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI double by freshman Derek Vanasse (Camarillo, Calif.) that scored sophomore Tyler Reistetter (Dickinson, Texas) followed two batters later by an RBI single by classmate Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) that brought in Vanasse.
• Freshman Jacob Syversen (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) got the start on the bump and lasted five innings, giving up two runs on five hits, with both runs coming in his last inning after ECSU tied the score up at 2-2.
• Merchant Marine broke through for four runs in the top of the sixth after back-to-back run-scoring plays, a two-RBI single by junior Jared Chambers (Houston, Texas) followed by a two-run homer by classmate Noah Herdman (Naperville, Ill.).
• The Warriors were able to scrape across two runs in both the sixth and the seventh innings to tie the game up again at 6-6.
• The Mariners threatened in the top of the 10th by getting two runners into scoring position with no outs before back-to-back strikeouts. They then loaded the bases with two outs after an intentional walk to Herdman, but couldn't get a run in after a lineout to center.
• The leadoff batter in the bottom of the 11th for Eastern Connecticut State hit a walk-off home run over the left field wall.
• Reistetter, Herdman, Clapsaddle and freshman Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) all had multi-hit days for the Mariners with two each. Reistetter scored twice.
• Senior Quinton Heck (Massillon, Ohio) suffered the loss despite tossing three strong innings of relief, allowing just the one run on only two hits with three strikeouts.
• For the Warriors, five different players had two hits apiece, including sophomore Jason Claiborn, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Senior Matt Malcolm hit the walk-off homer and classmate Bryan Albee earned the win on the mound after pitching a scoreless top of the 11th with two strikeouts. 

Up Next
The Mariners take on Wisconsin Lutheran on Thursday morning, March 17, beginning at 9 a.m. at Terry Park Field #2. Any live links for the game will be posted on the USMMA Baseball Schedule Page before first pitch and sent out on our social media sites (links below).
 
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