SAUGUS — It took 10 innings at World Series Park but when the dust settled it was the Swampscott baseball team that came out on top 3-2 on the road at Saugus Friday night.
The Big Blue jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning but didn’t score another run until the 10th, when Cam O’Brien plated Connor Correnti on a sacrifice fly.
“We’ve lost a few one-run games the last few games, so it’s good to win one,” Swampscott coach Joe Caponigro said. “But all the credit to Saugus and coach Joe Luis, they played excellent ball.”
Correnti represented most of Swampscott’s offense, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. O’Brien went 1-for-3 with a double and one RBI on the day.
Swampscott got some key relief innings from Joseph Ford (5 2/3 innings, four hits, four walks, one run, four strikeouts) and Aidan Graciale (two innings, three walks, one strikeout, save).
“We got terrific relief pitching from Joseph Ford and then obviously Aidan Graciale,” Caponigro said. “We have to do some work with our bats. But we feel fortunate to come out of here with a win.”
Saugus had some late game heroics from Nathan Ing, who went 3-for-4 and laced a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to keep Saugus alive.
But overall, the Sachems couldn’t help out pitcher Jason Casaletto — who threw seven innings and allowed just two runs on six hits, one walk and two hit batters with seven strikeouts.
“Jason came back after that first inning and held them down until we tied it,” Saugus coach Joe Luis said. “We just couldn’t get the big hit. We had a few times we moved a runner over. The key is, I don’t know how many times we had a guy on third base with less than two outs.”
Matt Schroeder started the game with an infield single and Correnti laced a double to drive him in right away. Later in the inning, Correnti scored on a failed pick off attempt to put Swampscott ahead 2-0.
After a trio of walks, Ford came in to get the Big Blue out of the jam in the second inning but not before Anthony Macone’s fielder’s choice drove in Braden Faiella to put Saugus on the board.
Unfortunately, Faiella left the game in an ambulance in the third inning after suffering a hip injury at the plate.
“I’ll be calling to see how he’s doing (Friday) night,” Luis said. “It sounded like he popped his hip. He’s a key role player, left fielder and it put us down to 13 players.”
“I feel bad (Faiella) got hurt,” Caponigro said. “I think it’s hard to keep your composure when you see your friend go down, but they did a good job.”
From there, it was a pitchers’ duel between Ford and Casletto before the final inning. With one out, Ing hit his homer — one of the only solid hits given up by Ford on the night — to left-center field and sent things to extra innings.
Both teams had plenty of chances, but it was the Big Blue who capitalized in the 10th. Correnti had an at-bat you dream of, fouling off several pitches before hitting a single with a full count. From there, he stole second and reached third on a passed ball before O’Brien sent him home on his sacrifice fly to put Swampscott ahead 3-2.
Saugus did get a man on second after a walk and stolen base in the bottom of the seventh, but Correnti shut the door on a comeback.
Swampscott (3-3) has some time off before hosting Winthrop Wednesday (6:30).
Saugus (1-5) hosts Masconomet Monday (4).
