Farmingdale 1 @ Ithaca 4
Coming off a big win in the opening round of the New York State Regional, #3 Farmingdale State Rams went up against #1 seed Ithaca on Thursday afternoon. They would have to face the incredibly tough pitching staff of the Bombers. Ithaca’s four starting pitchers on the year compiled a perfect combined record, going 31-0 with an ERA of 2.83, and would be sending out John Prendergast out to face the Rams.
Jorge Ruiz started off the top of the third with a double for Farmingdale and later scored on an error by the shortstop. Ithaca answered back with three more runs in the bottom on the third. Kitt Cameron struggled to last only 2.2 innings, but the bullpen held Ithaca to just one more run in the bottom of the seventh.
John Prendergast though did not surrender anymore runs. He was not overly dominant as he only struck out four batters, but was able to pitch to contact and keep hitters off balance. Prendergast improves to 9-0 on the season.
Farmingdale 5 @ Rensselaer 6
Coming off a tough loss to top-seeded Ithaca, the Rams would face RPI in an elimination game. Farmingdale jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, as David Zilnicki scored on an RBI groundout by Ron Remi.
The Rams tacked on another run in the top of the third, before RPI countered to tie it on two unearned runs on a throwing error by Anthony Alvino. In the top of the fifth, Eric Weiner singled home Justin Steigerwald, and was later driven in with Mike Scarlato on a single by Antony Alvano.
Up 5-2, the Rams just needed 12 more outs to escape elimination. Anthony Eilers allowed two more runs in the bottom of the sixth before getting yanked. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, James Powers came into the game and walked in the tying run and later allowed another run on a sacrifice fly to give RPI a 6-5 lead. The bats fell silent in the top of the ninth, as Tim Gallagher struck out the side to complete the victory.
This is a tough loss to swallow for Farmingdale, as they have won the opening game in every Regional since 2010 and failed to advance to the College World Series. Ironically, the Rams won the regional in 2009 after losing the opening game, only to win the next four in a row. It was a very successful season, locking up their sixth straight Skyline Conference Championship and with only losing five seniors, Farmingdale will look to continue it’s impressive streak and advance to another regional.
