Box Score THE BAICS
-Score: Clark University 9, Elms College 2
-Records: Clark (1-0), Elms (0-1)
-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Granger Field)
-The Lead: On opening day of the Clark University 2018 baseball season the Cougars ran to a 9-2 victory over the Blazers of Elms College in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Elms got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning before the Cougars answered with one in the bottom of the first when junior Zach Kelley (Hadley, Mass.) tripled to score Kyle Bonicki (Waterbury, Conn.). The Cougars added two more in the second to pull ahead 3-1 when Bonicki doubled to left field to score Ryan Ruhlin (Portland, Maine) and Kai Herko (Friday Harbor, Wash.).
-Andy Vasquez had a sacrifice fly in the third inning to pull Elms back within one at 3-2, but Clark added two runs in the sixth and four in the eighth including a homerun over the center field fence from sophomore Derek Lefebvre (Groton, Mass.) to pick up the 9-2 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Bonicki went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Cougars.
-Designated hitter Josh Berthiaume went 3-for-4 at the plate for Elms and picked up one RBI.
-Junior Cal Slepkow (Rehoboth, Mass.) earned the win on the mound for Clark going five innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out four batters. His classmate Dan Shaw (Arlington, Mass.) got the save for Clark when he came in at the top of the sixth inning (3-2) and pitched four innings giving up no runs, allowing just two hits and striking out two batters en route to the 9-2 victory.
-Thomas Owens got the opening-day start for Elms and struck out eight batters in four innings while allowing three runs. Cody Fisher threw three innings of relief and gave way to Kyle Powell in the eighth. After Powell allowed four runs, Mickey Howe struck out the only batter he faced for the final out of the eighth.
UP NEXT
-Clark takes on the Keene State College Owls on Tuesday, February 27th at 4:00 p.m. at home.
