STAMFORD, Conn. – Adrian Gonzaga struck out seven and allowed no earned runs in 4 and a third innings on the mound Saturday to lead the Rhode Island State Champions to a 10-7 win over Pittsfield in the Babe Ruth Baseball 16-year-old New England Regional.

 

Warrick, R.I., took control of the game with a six-run third inning to grab a 7-4 lead, but Pittsfield rallied for three in the top of the sixth to draw within a run at 8-7.

 

The Rhode Islanders scored two in the bottom of the sixth, though, and Gonzaga struck out the side in order in the top of the seventh to close out the win.

 

Aiden Arseneau went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs for Pittsfield, which also got doubles from Kevin Smith (2-for-4) and Kydd Kearns.

 

Pittsfield used four pitchers, who combined for six strikeouts in the loss.

 

Pittsfield drops to 1-1 in pool play. Rhode Island improved to 2-0, all alone in first place in the four-team pool.

 

Pittsfield finishes the pool round robin on Sunday morning against Connecticut Champion Bethel.

 

 

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Braintree tacked on 12 runs in the top of the seventh inning Saturday to run away with a 23-9 win over Pittsfield in the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-year-old New England Regional.

 

Troy Maloy went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI to lead a nine-hit attack for Pittsfield.

 

Jake Merwin was 2-for-4 with a double, and Mateo Herrera doubled in the loss.

 

Pittsfield split the pitching among five different players.

 

It takes an 0-2 record into Sunday morning’s pool play finale against Maine State Champion Bath.