University sports
The Gulls were forced to win it all in Game 3 after a dramatic Game 2 win.
The Endicott baseball program became the school’s first varsity team to compete for a national title. David Low/Endicott College
The Endicott College baseball team moved closer to winning its first Division III College World Series national championship in a hard-fought three-game series against Denison University.
The Gulls forced a third game after winning Game 2 in dramatic overtime fashion on Thursday. Game 3 did not fall in Endicott’s favor as the Gulls fell 4-3 in extras.
In a winner-take-all third game, Endicott jumped out to an early 3-0 lead via a John Fusco RBI single and a TJ Liponis (a Scarborough, Maine native) home run. Those were the only runs the Seagulls would get in the deciding contest.
The Big Red worked their way back and tied things up in the sixth inning off starting pitcher Evan Scully (a Maynard native). Denison’s bats were shut down until the 10th inning when they eventually grounded out Brady Stewart (of Hudson), who had started Game 2 just hours earlier.
Endicott’s appearance in this year’s national tournament was the program’s first. The baseball program became the school’s first varsity team to play for a national title. The Gulls have competed in four consecutive College World Series and won five consecutive NCAA Regional Championships.
The national championship trophy is still a long way off, but coach Brian Haley said his team should be proud of its second-place finish.
“I feel like what you guys saw on the field was some of the best baseball you will ever see at our level.” Haley said From his collection. “Certainly the effort and what these guys put into this field today…is something special that you don’t see very often. I couldn’t be prouder.”
“The bite I feel is like a mosquito bite compared to the love, pride and joy I feel for everything [the players] “I couldn’t imagine a better group to go to the World Championships four times in a row, get to the semifinals, and compete until the end,” Haley added.
“They know how I feel about them. That will never change. I just hope that the confidence they have in what they’ve done together carries with them the rest of their lives. I think it will. It’s nothing to hang your heads over. What you guys have done is amazing. So, just very proud.”
Despite the heartbreaking outcome of Game 3, Endicott won’t soon forget what happened in Game 2.
The Gulls handed the Big Red their only third loss all season, including the playoffs, to force a third game in thrilling fashion. Endicott found itself down 6-2 through five innings and on the verge of being bowled over.
The Gulls, who were the home team in game two, found new life in the second half of the contest when they scored four runs in the sixth inning to tie things up. The frame featured a sacrifice fly by Adam Regan (of Braintree), a bases-loaded walk drawn by Kyle Grabowski (of Westfield), and a double by Cade Bernardo.
Denison scored two more in the seventh to take an 8-6 lead, but Endicott scored again in the eighth by putting up four more points to regain a 10-8 advantage. Grabowski’s RBI hit, a bases-loaded hit from Brenden Walsh (of Reading), and a throwing error by Big Red, which cost them two runs, put the Gulls ahead late.
Denison forced extras by scoring two outs in the top of the ninth, but Endicott had the final say. Fusco hit a sac fly in the bottom of the 10th to win 11-10 to cap a back-and-forth game and keep Endicott’s season alive.
“That first game was really special, and obviously to win that game the way we did, it was amazing,” Haley said after the series.
Haley stressed the team’s leadership group as a factor in their most successful season to date. He singled out Liponis, a senior staff member, describing him as one of the most positive people you’ll meet.
“They are strong,” Hailey said. “They have a lot of heart. They don’t stop. They’ll keep fighting. Whatever happens doesn’t really bother them. They stay positive. They’re led by an amazing leadership group. … It’s a testament to leadership. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Get the latest Boston sports news
Get updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.