Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Rob Knox went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, and David Maxfield singled home the game-winning run in the eighth inning as the Norwich University baseball team defeated St. Michael's College, 9-8, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon at Garrity Field.

Knox, who extended his hit streak to 15 straight games with a ringing triple to center field in the first inning, blasted a pair of solo home runs to pace the Cadets at the plate. The senior catcher surpassed the 100-hit plateau for his career when he homered to left field with one out in the fifth inning. He added his 101st career hit when he blasted his second home run to deep center field with two outs in the seventh.

Norwich (6-21) jumped all over St. Michael's, building a 5-1 lead after the first inning. The Cadets took advantage of St. Michael's starting pitcher Collin Fishman, who had trouble finding the plate and uncorked four wild pitches during the inning. Fishman was unable to make it out of the inning, yielding five runs on three hits before being lifted from the game with two outs in the frame.

Travis Dyke reached on an error by the second baseman to lead off the first. Joe Sleeman moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt, and he came around to score following consecutive wild pitches by Fishman. Knox, who has been on fire at the plate of late, belted a triple to center and he scored on another wild pitch. Dustin Fleming followed with a walk, and David Wygonski smashed a double to left center to put runners on second and third. Fishman caught Sean Kennedy looking at strike three for the second out of the inning, but James Ramsay came through with an RBI single through the left side, plating Fleming and sending Wygonski to third. Wygonski scored the fourth run of the inning on Fishman's fourth wild pitch of the frame, which prompted a pitching change. Rob McCarty came on and gave up an RBI single to Corey Shearer, but Shearer was cut down at second base as he tried to stretch it to a double.

Neither team scored in the second or third innings, but St. Michael's began to chip away at the Norwich lead in the fourth when the Purple Knights scored an unearned run. The Cadets got that run back in the bottom of the frame with an unearned run of their own, and the hosts led 6-2 after four innings.

St. Michael's (3-19-1) got two more runs back in the top of the fifth as Bryan Geary produced an RBI single and Pete Estes connected with a sacrifice fly. Norwich answered with one run in the bottom of the inning on Knox's first home run.

Tim Pilczak homered leading off the seventh inning for St. Michael's, blasting one over the fence in left field. Norwich again responded in the bottom of the frame with another home run by Knox, a deep drive over the fence in center field.

St. Michael's trailed 8-5 to begin the eighth inning, but the Purple Knights loaded the bases with one out, and they made it 8-6 when Tony Bonvechio scored on a wild pitch. Geary, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to pace SMC at the plate, then ripped a two-run single to center field to knot the score at 8-8.

Conar Mahon was able to get out of the jam by retiring the final two batters, setting the stage for Maxfield's heroics.

Ramsay walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and he was moved to second on Shearer's sacrifice bunt. Maxfield then strode to the plate and calmly drilled a single to right field to drive home what proved to be the game-winning run.

St. Michael's refused to go quietly in the ninth inning, however, loading the bases with one out. Mahon was once again able to pitch around the trouble, though, getting Pilczak to fly out to shallow left field and inducing Chad Estey to pop out to first.

Mahon (2-0) threw 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits en route to his second victory of the season. He struck out two, while walking three. Jonathan Philbrook started the game for the Cadets and he gave up just one unearned run on one hit and four walks in 3.0 innings. He struck out two during his brief outing. Ryan Kelly pitched the middle innings for NU, working 3.1 innings and allowing four runs on six hits. The junior struck out three and walked just two.

Jeff McLaughlin went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored to help pace St. Michael's at the plate, while Estes was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one runs scored.

McCarty pitched well for the Purple Knights, giving up just three runs on four hits in 6.1 innings of work. Matt Dunn (1-1) took the loss as he allowed Norwich's eighth inning rally.

Norwich will return to action on Saturday, April 17, when the Cadets travel to Standish, Maine, to battle Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe St. Joseph's (Maine) in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.