SWAMPSCOTT — Skyler Smith and Todd Tringale both had solid days on the mound for the Saugus baseball team in a 5-1 win over Northeastern Conference rival Swampscott at Swampscott Middle School.
Smith earned the win in his first start of the season, pitching four innings while allowing three hits and four walks. Tringale came in for relief in the fifth inning, pitching a perfect three innings and striking out six to close the game.
“Skyler gave us the effort that we needed,” Saugus coach Joe Luis said. “He pitched into the fifth inning in his first time out and only let up one run that wasn’t even earned with a few fielding mistakes behind him.”
Jackson Stanton (3-for-3, two RBI) and Zack Falasca (1-for-2, RBI, two runs scored) led the Sachems offensively. CJ Graffeo (1-for-2, two walks, RBI) also contributed while Ronnie Paolo and Russ Grant each scored a run.
“Jackson had a huge day at the plate for us,” Luis said. “He made a huge play throwing out a runner at second in the first inning. That set the tone for the rest of the game and they couldn’t run on us.”
The Big Blue had their chances early on but struggled to get the big hit they needed. Swampscott stranded four runners in scoring position.
“We have some guys on this team that can hit,” Swampscott coach Joe Caponigro said. “I think that we are capable of hitting most guys. (Monday) was unfortunate. We had our chances and we had guys in scoring position. We had runners left on in a lot of innings.”
Jonathan Oriakhi (2-for-3 with two singles) had two of Swampscott’s three hits. Ryan Graciale scored the Big Blue’s lone run on a double-steal in the first inning.
The Sachems got off to a fast start after Falasca was hit by a pitch and Stanton reached on a single in the top of the first. Graffeo followed with a two-out walk to load the bases and Falasca scored a few pitches later on a balk to put Saugus ahead 1-0.
Swampscott answered in its half of the first. Graciale reached on an infield error and Oriakhi laced a single. Oriakhi was thrown out stealing second base during the next at-bat but Graciale scored from third to tie the game at 1-1.
Paolo got Saugus started with a single to leadoff the top of the third and Falasca reached after being hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt from Jack Devereaux, Stanton scored Paolo on a fielder’s choice. Graffeo laced a single to plate Falasca and put Saugus ahead 3-1.
Meanwhile, the Big Blue couldn’t put together clutch hitting. Swampscott missed out on a chance to grab an early lead with runners on second and third in the second inning and failed to capitalize on back-to-back walks in the fourth.
“We left guys on base,” Caponigro said. “We had chances early and we just couldn’t get the hit we needed. Then we got blown away by Tringale in the last three innings. (Tringale) is a good pitcher and obviously (Smith) was good too. He held us at bay. We just have to keep grinding and hopefully we find it soon.”
Saugus added insurance runs in the sixth inning. Falsca ripped a single with the bases loaded to score Grant. Stanton added a sacrifice fly to give Saugus a comfortable 5-1 advantage with Tringale on the mound.
“Once we got up 3-1, I was planning on bringing Todd in the sixth inning if we had the lead,” Luis said. “But once we added those extra runs and Skyler walked the first batter in the fifth we decided to go to Todd. He came in and showed control as he usually does. He’s pitching on Wednesday and he was able to finish (Monday) off without a lot of pitches. He gave us what we needed to shut them down.”
The Sachems (6-1) will hope to continue their hot start to the season Wednesday (4) at Peabody. Swampscott (2-4) will hope to bounce back on the road at Gloucester Wednesday (4).