Batchelder Deals Complete-Game Shutout, Baseball Handles Stockton, 9-0

AUBURUNDALE, Fla. – Junior right-hander Charles Batchelder anchored Suffolk Baseball to its first shutout victory of the season, as he scattered four hits and one walk in a 9-0 win over Stockton Tuesday night at Lake Myrtle Park as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitaitonal. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9, Stockton 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2) | Stockton (1-4) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first, both sides went down in order and things looked to be going in similar fashion to open the top of the second as Stockton quickly put two down. Blasé Cormier kept the Rams alive as the freshman barreled a triple to center field. Rich Giandrea brought his classmate in as he placed a single in right field to turn it into a 1-0 Suffolk game. 

Andrew Ashworth opened the second inning with a solo shot to left center to make it a 2-0 Rams game. An error by the Osperys third baseman J. J. Swentkowski, kept the inning alive and Suffolk took advantage. Rich Gilbride moved over thanks to Seth Coiley's single through the left side and both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Tyler Apt's immediate next pitch was wild letting Gilbride strut home for the 3-0 Rams' edge after 2.5 frames. 

Cormier's second extra base, a double to center field, hit of the outing brought in Will Hopkins in the top of the sixth to turn Suffolk's lead to 4-0. 

An inning later the Rams put the game away as they cycled through the order and tallied five runs to make it a 9-0 game in their favor. 

From there, Batchelder maintained his composure and locked up the win on the mound. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• The complete-game win was Batchelder's first of his collegiate career. The Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, native pitched all nine innings of Suffolk's 9-0 win with a career-high nine strikeouts. He gave up just four hits and walked only one of his 30 batters faced.
• Stockton, meanwhile, used five different arms in the nine-inning outing.
• In his first start, Tyler Apt sat down six hitters through the first 6.0 frames. He allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Nine different Rams produced a hit in the win with a pair of freshmen stepping up in Cormier and Ashworth. Cormier went 2-for-3 at the dish with a double and triple for one RBI to go along with one run. Ashworth, meanwhile, went yard for his sole hit in two trips to the plate, while collecting two RBI.
• Seniors Brady Chant (2-6, 1 RBI, 1 R) and Seth Coiley (3-4, 2 RBI), each of who hit a double, had multiple hit outings, to add to Suffolk's offense. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Batchelder threw a complete-game for the first time in his career.
• Behind Batchelder, Suffolk shutout its opponent for the first time since Chuck Gibson and the Rams kept then No. 22/18 St. John Fisher scoreless in the opening game of the 2017 NCAA Division III New England Regionals May 18, 2017.
• The nine-inning complete-game is a first for a Suffolk arm went the distance since Chuck Gibson did so in a 4-0 NCAA DIII regional win over then No. 22/18 St. John Fisher May 18, 2017.  
• Batchelder's nine Ks are the most by the junior rightie and most by a Suffolk pitcher this season and since Chuck Gibson did so in a 4-0 NCAA DIII regional win over then No. 22/18 St. John Fisher May 18, 2017.  
• The four hits allowed are the least given up since Chuck Gibson's three-hit, eight-strikeout, 9.0-inning, complete-game GNAC Championship shutout over Johnson & Wales, May 7, 2017.
• Cormier recorded the first double and triple of his career. The pair of hits are the first time the freshman first baseman had a multi-hit game in his collegiate career.
• Ashworth knocked one out of the park for the first time in Suffolk blue-and-gold.
• Joe Rufo recorded his first collegiate hit as a pinch hitter. 

POST-GAME PIC

ON DECK
Suffolk is set for a doubleheader tomorrow, Wednesday, March 13 against Westfield State. Game one's first pitch is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. at Lake Myrtle Park.