Coming off of a brutal walk-off loss to Nassau County Community College yesterday Suffolk CCC came back strong with two wins in shortened games today. A seven-run bottom of the ninth propelled Nassau to the win yesterday, but when the two teams squared off in Selden, Suffolk came out on top 4-1 and 8-0.
In game one Suffolk collected seven hits, scoring their first run on a bases-loaded double play in the first inning. Nassau came back with a run of their own in the third off of a double by shortstop Elijah Tavarez, but that’s all their bats could conjure on the day.
Starter Joseph Mattero earned the win pitching a complete game four-hitter. Apart from that third inning double by Tavarez he was able completely shut down Nassau’s bats.
The game wasn’t tied at one for long as Suffolk immediately answered with an RBI single from Jeff Towle in the third. They added two more in the fourth on singles by the third baseman Joseph Murphy and Matthew Stepnowski. Connor Hehir came on in relief and allowed just one hit and no runs in two innings of work, but the damage had been done and SCCC held on for the win thanks to Mattero’s pitching.
Murphy, Tavarez, and Suffolk centerfielder Ronald Linsalato were the only players with multiple hits in game one. Linsalato also scored two runs.
Game two featured an unconventional walk-off, the umpires called the game following a solo home run by Stepnowski in the bottom of the sixth that put Suffolk up 8-0. While Suffolk was in control for most of game one there was never much doubt about the result of game two.
That’s in large part due to the phenomenal pitching performance by Murphy who moved from third to the mound for game two. Murphy allowed just one hit in his six innings of work while striking out seven Nassau batters. He also drove in two runs, the first a sacrifice fly in the third, and another on a single in the fourth.
Not only did Stepnowski score the game’s final run, the right fielder also scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch in the second. However, the majority of runs came in the fourth. The aforementioned Murphy single was one, the inning also saw runs come on a single from Dominick Caputo, a double by Brandon O’Neil and a ground out from Linsalato.
Caputo and Stepnowski were the only two with multiple hits in game two.
Suffolk’s bats were a major part of their victories, but clearly without the terrific job their pitchers did the games could have ended much differently. After the game head coach Eric Brown said, “Both guys were excellent today on the mound. They stayed under control, kept them off balance, threw a ton of strikes and just did a tremendous job for us.”
With these wins Suffolk evened the season series between these teams at two games apiece. Now Suffolk will travel to Queens to play the Borough Manhattan Community College Monday, Nassau will also play Manhattan Tuesday.
