by Eric Belyea
Division-I
St. John’s split a double header with rival Georgetown in a Big East showdown, taking the first game 9-4 and dropping the second game 11-7. In the first game, Redshirt junior Ethan Routzahn was credited with the victory, pitching two innings in relief. The game was locked at four heading in to the seventh inning, but the Red Storm broke it open with great hitting from the heart of their lineup. Senior Ryan Hogan led the team with two hits and two RBI in the game. Routzahn shut the door in the bottom half of the inning to secure the victory.
In the second game, it was Georgetown who came with the late game heroics. Redshirt freshman Geoff Mosseau was not able to record an out for the Johnnies, giving up four runs, three of which were earned in the bottom of the eighth inning. Graduate student Carson Bartels led St. John’s with three RBI’s in the game, all of which came from a three run shot he hit as a part of a five-run sixth inning.
Coming out of Andover with a split of the double header, St. John’s looks for a series split as they take on the Hoya’s Sunday afternoon.
The Rams of Fordham University dropped both games of a non-conference match up in Towson as they took on the Tigers.
In game one, the Rams struck, or walked to their first lead of the game thanks in part to three walks from Trey Maeker, Chris Genaro, and Jason Coules. Jake Guercio followed the three consecutive free passes with a ground ball that brought Gernaro home. Declan Lavelle is credited with the loss, who gave up two runs, both unearned during his two innings of relief. Lavelle came in for Matt Mikulski, who struck out eight and walking three in his start. The Rams lost game one 5-3.
In game two of the twin bill, Fordham’s bats continued to stay silent. One bright spot, senior Nick Labella had three hits in the game, while scoring two runs. Walks were the story for the Rams pitching staff, as the three pitchers who appeared in game two walked a total of six Tigers, while combining for just seven strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Brooks Ey took the loss for the Rams, giving up the game winning run in the seventh, an RBI double to Brandon Austin.
The Rams fall to 16-9 on the season, and are slated to make a trip to West Point to take on Army on Tuesday.
Stony Brook continued their stronghold on the American East conference, taking both games of a double header from UMBC at Joe Nathan Field this afternoon.
Starter Sam Turcotte was the star of the game, going the full seven innings. Only giving up four hits while striking out six. After giving up a run in the top half of the first inning, Turcotte really settled in. Stanton Leuthner tied the game in the third inning with a long home run, his first of the season. The game remained tied as it headed to the bottom of the sixth inning, but an RBI double from John Tucillo and an unearned run crossing the plate in the inning game Turcotte all the run support he needed as he shut the door in the seventh.
In the second game, the Seawolves grabbed the lead early and never looked back. A four-run first inning gave them all the momentum they needed, taking advantage of a throwing error from the UMBC shortstop. Four of the six runs scored being earned, four different Seawolves registered an RBI. Jared Milch registered his third victory of the season, pitching five innings, with Kyle Johnson getting the four inning save out of the bullpen, pitching a perfect four inning save, facing the minimum.
Hofstra split a double header against CAA rival Delaware in Newark this afternoon, taking the first game 14-4 and dropping game two 7-5.
The Pride’s bats came out firing in the first game, with home runs from Austin Gauthier, Ryan Morash, Will Kennedy, and Steve Harrington. Each was their first homers of the season. Designated hitter Steve Harrington led all hitters with five RBI’s while registering two hits. Jack Jett earned the victory on the bump, striking out ten Blue Hens over six innings of work.
In game two of the double header, the Pride’s pitching staff folded late, giving up five runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Steven Kaenzig was handed the loss for the pride, giving up four runs over two innings of work. Anthony D’Onofrio was all over the stat sheet for the pride, smacking three hits, falling just a home run short of the cycle, while also stealing a bag.
Hofstra now sit at 1-5 in conference play, with the rubber match against Delaware scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The only Division 1 squad in the area playing a single game on Saturday, LIU faced off with NEC rival Central Connecticut State University, dropping the game 10-1.
Four errors from LIU fielders were the thorn in the side for the Sharks, as Alec Huertas took the loss. Although he gave up seven runs, only three of them were earned. Offensively for the Sharks, 15 different players had an at bat in the game, however senior pitcher Brandon Fox held the Sharks bats at bay, going eight strong innings while trusting his defense, only striking out one batter and walking two. LIU was able to plate one in the bottom of the eighth thanks to an RBI single from Dawson Degnan.
The Sharks fall to 10-8, and 8-6 in the NEC, with one more match up with CCSU on Sunday.
Division-II
Queens hosted Mercy College for an ECC match up. In game one, Mercy and Queens College traded runs in the fourth inning. After a four spot from Mercy, highlighted by a solo homerun from Anthony Murphy, the Knights put up three runs of their own, with a walk from Jordan Ramlogan to bring them within one. However, from that point on, Mercy plated three of the next four runs, with three of them coming in the top of the ninth inning. Danny Gargano was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs in two innings of work. In game two, Mercy’s bats only got hotter. After a first inning RBI single from Reed Hoskins, and a second inning RBI double from Nick Barreiros, it was all Mercy from that point forward. After regaining the lead in the top half of the sixth inning, Mercy scored six of their eight runs in the last two innings of the game, taking down Queens College 8-2.
Adelphi traveled up to Syracuse to take on Le Moyne College in a NE-10 match up.
In game one, Cooper Johnson got the Panthers offense going with a grand slam in the top half of the second inning, as a part of a six run second inning. Le Moyne mounted a late come back, plating four runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Michael Storms shut the door on the Dolphins. Adelphi sent Nicolas Luc to the mound, who was credited with the win throwing five innings, striking out seven.
In game two, it was Adelphi’s bats that went silent, only knocking four hits all game, two of which were to Anthony Cipri’s credit. Panthers starter Josh Rovner got hit around early, giving up five runs in just 2.1 innings pitched.
With the split of the double header, Adelphi falls to 4-3 in conference play, with another double header with Le Moyne slated for Sunday afternoon.
Division-III:
SUNY Farmingdale and St. Joseph’s College faced off in a double header this afternoon, with the Eagles of St. Joseph’s coming out on top in both games. Ryan Decoursey led the Eagles in hitting today, with two hits in the game, one of which was an RBI double. James McAleavey plated two of his own as well. Kevin Czeczotka went the distance in game one, throwing a three hit gem. Czeczotka struck out eight while only walking two Rams. Joe Wolf took the loss for the Rams, giving up two unearned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
In game two, the Eagles of St. Joseph’s came out firing, plating two runs in the top half of the first inning, thanks in part from RBI hits from Phil Krpata and Charles Rainone. Joe Marino battled on the mound for the Rams, going eight innings, giving up eight hits and four runs, three of which were earned. He also struck out six.
The two teams face off Sunday afternoon for another double header.
SUNY Maritime traveled to Purchase to take on SUNY Purchase in a double header Saturday afternoon, splitting the non-conference matchup.
Purchase had a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning, then the Maritime bats woke up. Austen Bishop regained the lead for Maritime with a two RBI double. Ryan Rockhill followed Bishop with a triple of his own to plate Bishop. Ryan Ragone was the pitcher of Record for Maritime, holding Purchase to just three hits and two earned runs over five innings of work. Matthew Paghidas was credited with the save, shutting down Purchase in the seventh inning. Maritime took game one 4-2.
In game 2, both teams plated a run in the first inning, but then the bats went silent until the fourth inning when Vincent Padula hit a solo shot. Later in the seventh, Maritime answered Padula’s homer when Freddy Forgione homered himself. Both Padula and Forgione’s home runs were their first of the season. Both teams stayed silent in the eighth, however in the bottom of the ninth, Louis Carvell walked Purchase off with an RBI single to win the game.
Both SUNY Old Westbury and United States Merchant Marine Academy were postponed Saturday.
