NEWPORT, R.I. (Tuesday, April 8, 2025) -- Clark University baseball jumped out to an early lead with four unearned runs in the third and held on for a 9-7 victory over #13/#14 Salve Regina University in a NEWMAC tilt on Reynolds Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Seahawks had the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth but Benjamin Spencer (S,2) earned his second save of the season when he got a force play at second for the final out. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Clark University 9, Salve Regina 7
Records: Salve Regina (14-7, 3-3 NEWMAC), Clark University (16-8, 3-3 NEWMAC)
History: Today marks the 15th meeting on the baseball diamond between Salve Regina and Clark. The Seahawks swept the season series (away/home) last year during Salve Regina's first season in the NEWMAC. A five-run first inning set the stage for a 7-5 victory last year on Reynolds Field (April 16, 2024) with Brayden Clark earning the victory on the mound. Matt D'Amato struck the big blow with a three-run homer in his first at bat. Brady Smolinski added an RBI double in the fifth inning before the Cougars made the final close with two in the sixth and two in the eighth. The Seahawks are 10-4-1 overall and 5-1 since 2022.

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HIGHLIGHTS ON X

Evan O'Rourke belted his second home run of the season, an opposite field blast in the fifth inning. Nicolas Santo on the call for @SalveBaseball on @flosports in @NEWMACsports action from Reynolds Field. pic.twitter.com/gkNCxVqAmH

— Salve Regina Sports (@SalveAthletics) April 9, 2025

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SUMMARY

• T3 - M. Soares reached first on an error by 1b; B. Sullivan advanced to third; C. Doran scored, unearned; A. Jalil scored, unearned. D. Mariani doubled to right center, 2 RBI; M. Soares scored, unearned; B. Sullivan scored, unearned. | COUGARS 4, SEAHAWKS 0
• B3 - Matthew Neal doubled to right center, 2 RBI; Brandon Grover scored; Nate Ruehs scored. | COUGARS 4, SEAHAWKS 2
• T4 - M. Salzillo doubled down the lf line, RBI; A. Jalil advanced to third; B. Hollinrak scored. C. Doran singled to right center, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; M. Salzillo scored; A. Jalil scored. | COUGARS 7, SEAHAWKS 2
• B5 - Evan O'Rourke homered to right field, RBI. | COUGARS 7, SEAHAWKS 3
• B6 - Matthew Neal reached first on an error by ss, RBI; Nate Ruehs advanced to second; Tyler Petrosino advanced to third; Shea Donovan scored. Shane Williams flied out to cf, RBI; N. Ruehs advanced to third; T. Petrosino scored, unearned. | COUGARS 7, SEAHAWKS 5
• T8 - D. Mariani doubled to right center, 2 RBI; M. Soares scored; M. Salzillo scored. | COUGARS 9, SEAHAWKS 5
• B9 - Tommy Whitlock singled to shortstop, RBI; Tyler Petrosino advanced to third; Christian Homa scored; Ray Mulhern scored. | COUGARS 9, SEAHAWKS 7

NOTEWORTHY

• Matthew Neal drove in three runs.
• Shea Donovan had three singles.
• Evan O'Rourke went opposite field (to right) with his fifth-inning home run.
• The teams combine to leave 24 runners on base -- Salve Regina (13), Clark (11).
• Salve Regina used six pitchers in the loss with the first three -- Joe DeRienzo (5), Nolan Romanowski (4), Nick Callano (2) -- combining for 11 strikeouts.

NEXT UP
Salve Regina returns to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to resume Game Two versus MIT (suspended in Top 4th with Seahawks leading, 2-0) on Wednesday, April 9.