Davenport, Fla. – The Hamilton College Continentals recorded their first shutout of the season in a 9-0 win over the Salem State University Vikings at the Northeast Regional Park on Saturday afternoon, March 21.

Season Update

• Hamilton (4-5 overall) improved to 4-0 on its spring break trip in Florida.
• Salem State (4-5) dropped both of its games on Saturday to snap a three-game winning streak.

How It Happened

• For the second consecutive game, Hamilton recorded multiple extra-base hits in the opening inning. Chester Boynton '27 led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, then Michael Tallarida '26 smashed a double down the left field line to drive him in. Lucas Herman '26 smacked a double to right field and drove in Tallarida for a 2-0 lead.
• Hamilton's Alfonso Rada '27 made a diving play at second base in the top of the third to rob the leadoff hitter of a single. The Vikings put a runner in scoring position with two outs, but Mark Kovach '28 got a ground ball to end the inning.
• The Continentals doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Herman and Taylor Kaufman '26 led off the frame with back-to-back walks, then Rada dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move them both over. Gianni DiCerbo '27 poked a single up the middle to drive in both runners and extend the lead to 4-0.
• Kovach recorded two strikeouts in the top of the fifth and stranded a runner on second base to register his sixth consecutive scoreless frame.
• A base hit to left field by Tallarida scored Ethan Righter '27 and made it 5-0 in the seventh.
• Hamilton's Mantas Kempinas '28 tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth, and the Continentals tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the frame with the help of an RBI single by Righter and a two-run double by Tallarida.

Notes

• Hamilton has not allowed an earned run in its last 20 innings.
• Tallarida tied his career high with four runs batted.
• Righter, Kaufman and Boynton each scored two runs.
• Kaufman stole two bases in a game for the third time this season.
• Kovach collected his first win of the season after allowing four hits, zero runs and one walk with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
• Mantas Kempinas '28 retired all eight batters he faced in 2.2 innings in relief.
• Kyle Egidio '27 recorded two strikeouts in one perfect inning in relief.
• Ethan Stepputtis recorded a team-high two hits for the Vikings.
• Salem State starting pitcher Ethan Hill completed seven innings of work with seven hits and six runs allowed.

Next Game

Hamilton will return to action against Elmhurst University (5-8) at the Chain of Lakes Park on Monday, March 23 at 11 a.m.