Drury Rallies in Final Inning to Beat Wahconah
DALTON, Mass. -- The Drury baseball team got a strong outing from junior starter Robert Jutras, and senior Tyler Benoit came through with the game-winning hit by slapping an RBI single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to give the Blue Devils a 4-2 come-from-behind win over Wahconah on Saturday.Trailing 2-1 heading into its last at bats, the Drury rally started when senior captain Mike Tatro was hit by a pitch. Tatro would score on a hit by classmate Peter Dassatti to tie the game before Benoit drove in Dassatti for the game's winning run. Junior Max Quinn came through with another RBI single before the frame was through, giving the Blue Devils (3-2) all the cushion they would need to win their third game in a row.
"It was a great team effort to battle back and get a big win," Drury head coach Al Marceau said. "We received a strong pitching performance from Robert Jutras and Chase Preite did a terrific job closing out the game. The defense played very well behind Juice and we were able to come up with big hits at the right time. Tatro's hit by a pitch in the top of the seventh was the catalyst we needed. When Mike gets on base consistenly, we are a very dynamic offense that can run and make things happen."
Tatro got off to a slow start this season but has since turned it on in the last two games, collecting three hits and reaching base several more times over the past two games. He went 2 for 2 against the Warriors on Saturday, while Dassatti and Quinn each collected a pair of hits to go along with one RBI apiece.
"Dassatti and Preite at the top of lineup have created opportunities for Benoit and Quinn to drive in some runs," Marceau said. "Tatro will add another big bat to the middle of the lineup, along with Jutras, that will allow us to keep the pressure on opposing teams more consistently. The bottom of the order has been drawing walks and putting the ball in play more consistently with each game, helping us to extend innings and drive up pitch counts."
The offense was only half the story in the Blue Devils' latest win, however. After losing to Wahconah 7-4 in a game played 12 days ago, Jutras came back strong by allowing two earned runs over six innings of work, stirking out six and walking two to earn his first win of the season. Preite came on for Jutras in the seventh and struck out two Warriors to earn the save. Ryan Kasala took the loss for Wahconah, giving up 10 hits with two strikeouts and three base on balls.
Drury next hosts Monument Mountain Monday for game under the lights at Joe Wolfe Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.