BRIDGEWATER — The No. 4/8 nationally ranked Endicott baseball team defeated Johnson & Wales, 7-1, in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament — Bridgewater Regional on Monday evening at Alumni Park.
WP (9-1): Gabe Van Emon (Lexington) — 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 KLP (2-3): Elijah Barber (Rumford, R.I.) — 1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The Gulls scored at least one run in the first five innings to win their second straight NCAA Tournament Regional Championship.
Robbie Wladkowski (Norwood) and Danny MacDougall (Taunton) both notched RBI doubles in a two-run first for the Gulls.
From there, John Mulready (Peabody) had RBI singles in the second and third, while MacDougall and Joseph Millar (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) plated runs in the fourth (sac fly) and fifth innings (single to center), respectively.
Wladkowski capped the scoring in the eighth with an RBI double down the left field line. The RBI was the fifth of the tournament for Wladkowski (second on team).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Nicholas Cannata (Marlborough, Conn.) turned in his second solid start for the Gulls in the tournament (4 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K).
- Earlier in the tournament (5/20), Cannata got the win against Middlebury (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K).
- Much like last year’s regional championship victory, Endicott forced the if game to eventually advance to Super Regionals.
- The Gulls pushed their program record wins total this season to 43.
- Endicott is 3-0 in neutral site games this spring.
- MacDougall led the team in batting average (.421), doubles (4, tied), and hits (8, tied) in the tournament.
- Mulready paced the Gulls with six RBI in their five games played.
WHAT’S NEXT
No. 4/8 Endicott (43-7) will play Ithaca (31-14) in the NCAA Super Regionals from May 26-27 at a site to be determined later.
Johnson & Wales sees its historic season come to a close at 30-15 overall. The Wildcats made their first-ever appearance to an NCAA Tournament Regional Championship this weekend.
(Photo Credit – Leanna Puccio ’24)
