Box ScorePhoenix, Ariz. -- March 10, 2012 -- Freshman outfielder Steve Starr went 4-for-5 and senior first baseman Karl Quist added three more hits to lead the Springfield College baseball team to a season-opening 11-inning 10-9 victory over Rockford College of Illinois in the Russ Matt Greater Phoenix Invitational today
SC is 1-0, while Rockford continues to search for its first win and is now 0-9.
Starr, a left-handed hitter from Lebanon, Conn., has won the job in centerfield and is batting leadoff. Besides his four hits, he also had a walk, a stolen base, and two RBI's.
Quist, a veteran left-handed hitter from New Preston, Conn., had a triple among his three hits, knocking in one run.
Springfield found itself down by a 2-0 score after one inning, but quickly came back to tie it with two runs of its own in the top of the second. SC added three more in the fourth and three more in the sixth to take what seemed to be a commanding 8-2 lead.
But the Regents struck for five markers in the bottom of the sixth to close to within one at 8-7.
Rockford then tied it in the ninth, 8-8, to send it into extra frames.
In the 11th, sophomore DH Mike McGowan (Franklin, Mass.) doubled, later scoring on an errant throw. Quist later singled, knocking home an important second run.
Rockford scored one run in the bottom of the 11th, and had two runners on when the final Regent batter popped out to shortstop.
Freshman shortstop Shane O'Leary (King's Park, N.Y.) and McGowan also had two hits. Senior RHP Craig Zysk (Shelton, Conn.) hurled the final two innings and received credit for the victory.
Springfield will play Lewis & Clark Sunday as it continues its eight-game trip to Phoenix.
Former Springfield College standout Mark Simeone will enter his 18th season as the head baseball coach at his alma mater in 2014. The 2012 NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Simeone will lead a veteran squad this spring. Read more.