Nate Witkowski
Nate Witkowski

Croteau, Yohe Help 1st-Place Bentley Sweep St. Michael’s, 2-1 and 3-2

WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior right-handers Jeff Croteau (Auburn/Auburn HS) and John Yohe (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic HS) each turned in complete game efforts as division-leading Bentley University swept St. Michael's College, 2-1 and 3-2, in a Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

Croteau tied for the conference lead in wins, notching his seventh in ten decisions with a three-hitter in the opener. He walked one and struck out four while lowering his ERA to 2.09.

Yohe posted his third straight win in the night with his 15th career victory including a season-best eight strikeouts.

The sweep of the three-game series, which began with a 15-3 win Friday, put Bentley in sole possession of first in the Northeast Division. The Falcons, 15-2 over the last three weeks, improved to 24-16 overall, 16-8 in conference play and 12-4 in the division.

Bentley's only runs in game one came in the sixth. Junior center fielder Sean Keady (Norwood/Norwood HS) opened the inning by reaching on an error. After stealing his 34th base of the year to tie his own school record, he took third on a ground out and scored on a single to left by senior catcher Kevin Korwek (Madison, Conn./Daniel HS). Later in the inning, senior second baseman Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./Lawrence Academy) scored on the Purple Knights' third error of the sixth.

Korwek's single extended his hitting streak to 22 games, and he also had a hit in the nightcap to make it 23 straight.

St. Michael's only run of the game came in the seventh. Sophomore shortstop Don McGuirl (Warwick, R.I.) tripled to right and scored on a single through the left side by junior DH Alec Tice (Chelmsford).  Later that inning, senior left fielder Jacob Begnoche (Essex Juncton, Vt.), who replaced Tice on base with a fielder's choice, was thrown out attempting to steal by Korwek.

Croteau closed out the game by retiring the final seven batters he faced.

The Purple Knights (12-26, 8-18 NE-10, 4-14 division) struck first in game two with Tice doubling in McGuirl in the top of the third. Bentley matched in the bottom of the same frame with Keady reaching on an error, moving to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scoring on a sacrifice fly by freshman first baseman Evan Mondor (Rehoboth/Dighton-Rehoboth Reg. HS).

It stayed that way until the eighth when Korwek walked to start the eighth. One out later, junior third baseman Nate Witkowski (Melrose/Malden Catholic HS) tripled to deep center to plate Korwek and Witkowski finished his trip around the bases when an error was made on the throw to third.

An RBI double by sophomore DH George Buteau (Burlington, Vt.) made it a one-run game with two outs in the ninth, before Yohe closed out the Knights with a pop-up to short for the final out.

St. Michael's received quality pitching in each game with only one of Bentley's five runs earned. Junior righty Nick Myers (Canton, Conn.) pitched a four-hitter in the opener and senior righty Andrew DuPrat (Fairfax, Vt.) limited the Falcons to seven hits in game two.

Bentley will complete a five-game homestand Sunday with a 12 noon non-conference encounter with Rollins College.