Aggressive Huskies challenge Red Sox in traditional spring training opener
After taking an early lead, Northeastern fell to Boston, 18-3, in Fort Myers, Florida.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Northeastern University’s baseball team showed early signs of upsetting the Boston Red Sox for the first time ever Friday afternoon.
Then the Red Sox literally hit the Huskies with a power display before more than 6,300 fans at JetBlue Park.
Boston beat Northeastern, 18-3, as the Red Sox had 14 hits, five for extra bases, including a solo homer by catcher Ronald Rosario.
The Huskies led 2-1 after two innings, only to see Boston respond with 17 straight runs, including three in the third inning, four in the fourth and nine in the sixth.
That ran Boston’s record to 22-0 vs. Northeastern in the annual spring training opener.
“The guys came out to get the experience,” coach Mike Glavine said. “We had a great three innings, then fell apart.”
The aggressive Huskies posted seven hits and five stolen bases. The hits – all singles – were tallied by Harrison Feinberg, Ryan Gerety, Anthony Ruggerio, Cooper Tarantino, Tom Mahoney, Carmelo Musacchia and Matt Brinker.
Starting Northeastern pitcher Robbie O’Connor went two innings, striking out one and giving up two hits, one run and no walks.
Swinging and running
Northeastern came out attacking.
The Huskies took a 1-0 lead when center fielder Feinberg, an All-American candidate, singled, stole second and scored on right fielder Gerety’s single.
“We definitely started out hot and had good energy,” Feinberg said. “We like to run and put a lot of pressure on teams. And that is a talented team.”
Gerety, who grew up a Red Sox fan, said, “It was a tough battle against a great pitcher (Tyler Uberstine). I got jammed up but got the ball through. It was awesome rounding first. The boys were all hyped up for me.”
After the Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the first, more aggression on the bases led to a run as left fielder Ruggerio singled, stole second, stole third and came home on Boston catcher Rosario’s throwing error.
“I saw the first pitch and stayed on it and slapped the other way,” Ruggerio said. “On first, I got a read. It wasn’t the great read but I did the job. Then, the third baseman played back so I said, ‘Why not?’ The catcher then threw it away and I scored. That’s a standard – we’re taught to run.
“This is super cool. It’s my fourth year and it never gets old. I have a lot of buddies who are in the big leagues. This is a big league atmosphere for a day. It’s surreal for me.”
Outfield adventures, an error and key hits led the Red Sox to scoring three times in the third and four times in the fourth before the eruption in the sixth.
“It was a tough day with the sun but that’s not an excuse,” Feinberg said. “We have to stay more relaxed, let the ball come to us and trust our reads.”
Northeastern put up a fight in the seventh. With chants of “Here we go Huskies, here we go,” in the background, Tarantino singled, advanced to second and scored on Mahoney’s RBI single. Ian Oehlschlager raced to first safely after striking out.
However, the rally died there.
Despite the hits and stolen bases, the outfield miscues bothered Glavine.
“Overall, to be honest, I’m disappointed,” Glavine said. “We’re not expected to win but we’re expected to play baseball.
“We showed the team we can be in the first three innings but fell apart in the next three. It was disappointing seeing a fly ball and pop up dropped and not knowing how many outs there were.”
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With three losses to start the season before the Red Sox game, Glavine said his team, which has young talent, has to step up.
“We need to make sure everyone trusts their ability,” Feinberg said. “This is a talented team, although the record doesn’t show it.
“We’ve got this weekend and next weekend before conference play. This is a young team. It’s about getting everyone experience, trusting ourselves and coming together.”
The Huskies had six players drafted – 16 in the last five years – after a 49-11 season last year that ended with a 3-2 loss to Mississippi State in the NCAA regionals.
A total of 19 former Husky baseball players saw action in the 2025 season in professional baseball systems around the world, highlighted by three Huskies in Major League Baseball, including rookie sensation Cam Schlittler who made postseason history with the New York Yankees when he was the first pitcher to throw eight innings, strike out 12, walk none and allow zero runs in a Major League Baseball postseason game.
“Their baseball team is building a great foundation and developing a winning program, just like the school,” said Bob Maddock, a 1972 graduate in engineering whose father graduated in 1942 and daughter in 2022. “Northeastern has become a superpower.”
The opening pitch was tossed by Steven Picheny, a 1964 graduate in mechanical engineering.
