After nearly blowing an eight-run lead, Farmingdale hung on to defeat Maritime 10-8 in game one of the double header on senior day.
On a day in which nine seniors were recognized for their Farmingdale careers, it quickly turned into a slugfest for the Rams.
Maritime starter Dylan Clausen entered the day 4-0 on the season, but lasted only 1.1 innings after Farmingdale tagged him for eight hits and six runs.
Ernie Geraci got the first RBI of the game and ultimately got the momentum going for the Rams. A throwing error by Clausen, a passed ball and an RBI single by Nicholas Soriano made it 3-0 in the first inning for Farmingdale.
The Rams went back to work in the second, with Geraci knocking his second single through the right side for another RBI. A walk to Anthony Gigante put them up 5-0, followed by another Soriano RBI single. Just when it looked like the Rams were done, second baseman Tyler Schrimpf lined a two-run single to centerfield, putting Farmingdale up 8-0 in just the top of the second.
After a strong two innings, Farmingdale starter David Otero Jr ran into trouble in the third, walking four batters, allowing two hits, one passed ball and one wild pitch. He gave up two runs but left with the bases loaded.
Ryan Mallon came in for relief of Otero, but was greeted with a three-run double down the line by shortstop Matt Costleigh, cutting the lead to 8-5. Costleigh would get pushed over to third and later score on a passed ball, making it 8-6 Rams. Antonio Diaz tacked on an RBI single, the seventh run in the inning all with no outs.
After the first three innings both teams started to settle in. Farmingdale DH Vincent Rice knocked an RBI double in the fifth to go along with his 2-for-4 line. The Privateers would respond in the top of the sixth with a sac fly from Travis Zurita, cutting the lead 9-8 in favor of Farmingdale.
The Rams would tac on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a Schrimpf RBI single to left field.
Relievers Thomas Pallato and Logan Hicks put out the fire in the back of the bullpen for the Rams. They pitched a combined five innings of work, giving up four hits and one run. Hicks worked out of a crucial jam in the eighth inning to preserve the lead.
In the ninth, with the bases loaded and two outs, right fielder Devin Caybasi made a game-ending diving catch to preserve the 10-8 victory for Farmingdale.
In game two Maritime defeated Farmingdale 4-2 to split the double header.
Maritime starter Anthony D’Ancona pitched a one run game, going seven innings and striking out three. Though he was not perfect, he located his pitches and allowed his defense to do the work.
He was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Farmingdale righty Matthew Constantine. Constantine, who pitched the final inning of game one, came out and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up three runs and striking out four.
The offense for both teams was quiet for most of the game. On the other side of the ball, both outfields flashed the leather with multiple diving catches early on.
In the top of the fifth, Maritime DH Stephen Semler blasted a double into deep left field with two outs. After an infield single pushed him to third, Constantine leaned back and was able to get a pivotal strikeout to end the inning and stop the threat.
The first runs of the game came in the sixth inning, when Maritime shortstop Matt Costleigh blasted a two run triple to deep left center. He would score on the same play on an overthrow by the shortstop, making it 3-0 Privateers.
Costleigh had a combined two triples in both games of the double header, both of which were crucial to keeping his team in the game. Head Coach Charlie Barbieri talked about his grit.
“Talk about a competitor and a bulldog, that’s what he is. The guys feed off him. In our lineup there’s a lot of guys who can do damage but right now there’s nobody I’d rather have up in a big spot.”
A sixth inning single and mishandle by the centerfield allowed Vincent Rice to score, cutting the lead to 3-1.
The Privateers would respond in the bottom of the top of the seventh, scoring an RBI off a Shane Sullivan single.
Farmingdale was able to grab another run in the bottom of the seventh but it would not be enough. Maritime moved to 21-10 on the season while Farmingdale sits at 18-11.
