⬆️ 2 | NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT ONE!

Sirota hits one 400+ feet to extend the lead! Two more runs makes it 5-0!#HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/KntfH4Juxy

— Northeastern Baseball (@GoNUbaseball) May 12, 2023

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Northeastern Huskies (38-9, 18-7 CAA) defeated the William & Mary Tribe (30-20, 13-12 CAA) by a score of 8-1 on Friday evening at Plumeri Park, taking a 1-0 series lead in their best-of-three set.
 
The Huskies were led by leadoff center fielder Mike Sirota (3-for-5, 3R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) with an early, 2^nd-inning home run, and left fielder Alex Lane (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) with a three-run blast in the fifth to take a commanding lead over the Tribe. The W&M offense was halted by hurlers Aiven Cabral (W, 7-3) who worked a six-inning start, and relief pitcher Patrick Harrington (SV, 2) who worked the final three innings allowing no runs.
 

• A leadoff double from Mike Sirota and a three-hitter double from Danny Crossen gave Northeastern an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• The Huskies added on to the lead with a big second inning, featuring four runs on four hits. The inning began with a double by Cam Maldonado, and a walk to designated hitter Jack Doyle.
• Both runners were moved into scoring position by a perfect sacrifice bunt from Spenser Smith, and an RBI single from Gregory Bozzo scored them both to make it 3-0.
• After a walk to Luke Beckstein, Mike Sirota sent a ball over the left field scoreboard for his 15^th home run of the season for the 5-0 lead.
• William & Mary responded in the bottom of the frame with their first hits of the game and first run of the game, scoring one on an RBI single.
• The Huskies got another big inning in the top of the fifth, starting with another hit for Mike Sirota – he was advanced to second by a walk to MacGregor, and both were hit in by a homer to left field by Alex Lane, his 14^th of the season. The Huskies led 8-1 after five.
• Starting pitcher Aiven Cabral went six full innings of work, and allowed just one run on four hits. He walked three batters, the most he's walked in a game this season, but struck out four in line for his seventh win of the season.
• Relieving Cabral was Patrick Harrington who pitched the final three innings, earning his second save of the season. He allowed just two hits, no runs, and struck out two, to preserve the seven run lead.
• Northeastern improves to 14-1 in Friday games and 12-1 in series openers.
• The Huskies are 24-3 this season when tallying two or more homers in a game, and 27-0 when tallying eight or more runs.

 
The Huskies and Tribe continue the series Saturday, May 13^th, with a scheduled 3 p.m. start on FloBaseball.
 
#HowlinHuskies