Bulldogs squeeze out win over Marblehead

LYNN – English coach Joe Caponigro knew that his team?s game on Saturday at Fraser Field against Marblehead was big in many ways, especially with the Bulldogs in the midst of a dogfight atop the Northeastern Conference/North standings.
After spotting the Magicians a three-run lead, the Bulldogs (8-4) rallied to tie the game in the fifth and then won it, 4-3, on Carlos Cordero?s suicide squeeze in the bottom of the seventh that scored Kyle O?Connor.
?It?s a good win for us,” Caponigro said. “The kids never quit and battled back from 3-0 down. I?m very proud of them.”
The Bulldogs got in that hole despite starter Jeam Castillo not surrendering a hit. In the early going, he walked the leadoff batter three times and didn?t get any defensive support behind him. English got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on Anthony delaCruz?s single, which plated O?Connor.
That duo would give Marblehead pitchers fits all game as O?Connor was 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and delaCruz was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
O?Connor kept the rally going in the bottom of the fifth when he followed Brett Holey?s two-out single with a blast over the right-field fence that tied the game.
Holey, who came on in relief of Castillo in the fourth, shut the Magicians down and gave the Bulldogs a chance to win it. O?Connor doubled to right with one out in the seventh before delaCruz singled.
Castillo was intentionally walked to load the bases for Cordero, who bunted Ted Rockett?s first pitch down the first base line to score O?Connor from third.
?Kyle has been swinging the bat well and hadn?t had a lot to show for it,” Caponigro said. “(Saturday) he got something positive to happen.”
Marblehead (6-6) managed two hits in the game, one each from Drew Bisegna and Josh Tassinari. The Magicians scored once in each of the first three innings on sacrifice flies by Spencer Carr and Jeff Stern and a throwing error that brought Bisegna home after a walk in the third.
Marblehead had the go ahead run on third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Holey struck out Harrison Engstrom to end the threat.
?Brett definitely was the MVP for us (Saturday),” Caponigro said. “He came in and did a great job on the mound by throwing strikes. And he got the huge hit for us that gave Kyle a chance in the fifth.”Matthew Roy may be reached at [email protected].