PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – In a double header in the 2023 Snowbird Classic, the Northeastern Huskies (4-1) won both games against Indiana State (2-4), winning game one by a score of 9-5, and game two by a score of 15-10.
The Huskies' offense produced nine total home runs on the day, from seven different hitters, including six homers in game two. Leading the way with two each was
Mike Sirota, who hit both his homers in game two, and
Alex Lane, who homered in each game. Shortstop
Spenser Smith led the way in batting average going 4-for-5 in game two, with two RBIs.
Game 1 – NU 9, ISU 5
- The Huskies got on the board early with a grand slam in the second inning, courtesy of Luke Beckstein, his first homer of the year. Bases were loaded by a single to center from Jimmy Sullivan, a single down the left field line by Carmelo Musacchia, and a single through the left side by Gregory Bozzo.
- Sullivan would strike again in the following inning with a solo shot over the center field wall, making it 5-0.
- The Sycamores attempted to rally back with a three-run fourth inning off two homers, and one run in the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-4, but the Husky bullpen was able to keep them from tying it.
- A wild pitch in the seventh inning scored Tyler MacGregor from third base, making it 6-4.
- A bases-loaded HBP to the Sycamores once again cut the lead down to one run in the eighth, 6-5.
- In the top of the ninth, with Mike Sirota on first from a single down the line, and Beckstein at second after being hit by a pitch, left fielder Alex Lane recorded his first homer as a Husky, launching one over the left-field wall for the final score of 9-5.
- Wyatt Scotti (W, 2-0) pitched 5.0 innings allowing seven hits, four runs (only three earned), and walked two batters, while collecting six strikeouts, a season-high.
- From the bullpen, Charlie Walker took over in the sixth and went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, one run, and a walk, striking out five batters.
- Getting the save was Griffin Young, going the final 1.2 innings, entering the game with just a two-run cushion. He left the Sycamores hitless while he was on the mound, with no runs or walks allowed and three K's. his first save of the season.
- The Northeastern pitching staff struck out 14 total batters in the game, a new season-high.
- All but one of Northeastern's runs in game one were scored by home runs.
Game 2 – NU 15, ISU 10
- The scoring continued for the Huskies early in game two when a Sullivan sacrifice fly and a Cam Maldonado fielder's choice gave NU a 2-0 lead.
- Spenser Smith made his season debut at shortstop and tallied hits in his first four at-bats of the year, including an RBI double to right-center field in the second inning, scoring DH Luke Masiuk.
- The next batter was Mike Sirota, who tallied his first homer of the season over the left field wall, scoring Smith, and giving Northeastern a 5-0 lead.
- Smith once again tallied an RBI hit, a single up the middle scoring two runs – left fielder Harrison Feinberg, and right fielder Maldonado.
- Indiana State was able to break the shutout in the third inning, scoring on a wild pitch.
- Northeastern tallied two more homers in the fourth, off the bats of Danny Crossen, his first of the year, and Alex Lane, his second of the day, giving the Huskies a 9-1 lead.
- The Sycamore bats woke up in the bottom of the sixth inning as they plated seven runs, five of them earned, to cut into the lead.
- Northeastern responded with back-to-back home runs from rookie Sean McGee, his first career hit, and Sirota, his second of the game, to lead 12-8.
- The home runs weren't finished, though, as Feinberg notched his first career four-bagger in the eighth over the left field wall, making it 15-8.
- The Sycamores attempted one final push with an RBI single in the eighth, and a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Huskies closed the game out with their second straight series win.
- Eric Yost (W, 1-0) started the game and went 5.1 innings – he allowed seven runs and one walk, and stuck out two batters.
- Another strong bullpen showing saw Aiven Cabral notch his first two career K's in his 2.2 innings of work – he allowed just two runs , one earned, on three hits.
- Closing the game out was sophomore Jack Beauchesne, who notched a punch-out in his 1.1 innings.
- Alex Lane was the first Husky to homer in both games of a double header since Jared Dupere in 2021, and Sirota was the first to homer twice in one game since Ben Malgeri in the 2021 CAA championship game.
- Six home runs in one game is the most for Northeastern since May 20th, 2021 against Towson. NU also tallied 15 runs in that contest, winning 15-2.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Centennial Park. The game will stream on FloBaseball.
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