Lynch's Walk-Off Highlights Sweep of Anna Maria College

THE BASICS 

Score: 
GM 1 – Salem State University 3, vs. Anna Maria College, 0 (7 inn.)
GM 2 – Salem State University 6, vs. Anna Maria College, 5 (8 inn.) 

Records: 
Salem State Vikings (12-13, 8-7 MASCAC)

Anna Maria College AMCATS (21-10, 11-4 MASCAC)

Location: Salem, Mass. - Alumni Field

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

THE LEAD – The Salem State baseball team ended up winning the three-game series over Anna Maria College by taking both games in Saturday's doubleheader with a 3-0 win in game one, and then a 6-5 victory in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Throughout the first two innings, neither side generated any offense. However, in the bottom half of the third Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) ripped a hard single to the second base, and before the fielder could make a play, Lucas Rincon (Revere, Mass.) crossed the plate. 
• After Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) continued to keep the AMCATS off the board in the fourth and fifth, Salem tacked on another run in the fifth after taking advantage of a passed ball for a 2-0 advantage.
• The Vikes pushed their lead to three in the next inning when Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.) hit a deep sacrifice fly to right, which allowed Owen Duggan (Billerca, Mass.) to score after he singled earlier in the frame. 
• Despite a late push by Anna Maria, having runners on first and second with two outs, Currier shut down the AMCATS' momentum by retiring the next two batters and secured the 3-0 win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• Jack Doyle (Salem, Mass.) and Rincon both led the Salem offense with two hits.
• Gonzalez and Lynch were the lone Vikings hitters to record RBIs in the opening contest.
• Currier earned the win after tossing a complete game and allowing two hits and no runs. He also struck out a career-high 11 on the day.
• Jonathan Guardascione and Justin Chiulli were the only Anna Maria hitters to record a hit for the visitors.
• Owen Sullivan took the loss for the AMCATS after going 6.0 IP and giving up eight hits, three runs, and striking out five.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• In the second contest, it was Anna Maria who struck first, thanks to a two-run RBI double off the bat of Guardascione for the early 2-0 lead. Later in the contest during the fifth, the AMCATS tacked on another run and pushed its advantage to three (3-0).
• However, in the bottom half of the frame, Salem finally got on the board when Doyle ripped an RBI single past the diving shortstop of Anna Maria that allowed Currier to score after he drew a walk earlier. 
• During the following inning, the Vikings ended up tying the contest at three when Gonzalez drove a double to deep left that plated two runs with two outs. Despite evening the contest, Anna Maria answered back with a two-run seventh to go up 5-3 heading into the final inning.
• With already one out in the inning, Ethan Stepputtis (Prospect, Conn.) cut the deficit to one (5-4) when he sent a single past the shortstop. Later in the inning with two outs, Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) drew a clutch walk that allowed the tying run to score. 
• After a quiet eighth inning from Anna Maria, Salem ended up having runners on first and second with one out by drawing two walks earlier. Shortly after those walks, Lynch walked off the AMCATS when he ripped a single through the left side, which allowed for the Blue and Orange to complete the comeback, 6-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• Five different Vikings finished the day with an RBI, led by Gonzalez's two. The others to record an RBI were Belgrove, Doyle, Lynch, and Stepputtis.
• Collin Tenney (Woodbridge, Conn.) got the no-decision in the start after going 4.0 IP while allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out four.
• Brandon McMahon (Malden, Mass.) earned the win after tossing 1.2 IP while allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out one.
• Guardascione led the AMCATS offense with three RBIs.
• Starter Jesse Buonocore also earned a no-decision after throwing 5.2 IP and allowing three runs while striking out four.
• Tyler Godin ended up with the loss after going 0.1 IP while allowing one run.
• Lynch's walk-off is the second of his career. His first came last year in an 8-7 win over Bard College (Mar. 16, 2025).

UP NEXT 

•  Salem starts off a two-game road trip when the squad heads to North Adams, Mass., on Monday, April 20, for a 3:00 p.m. contest at MCLA.