by Andy Smith
We enter Week 4 of the NCAA College Baseball season and the local Div-I teams are starting to get their legs underneath them. The Division-II teams and some D-III teams are on their Spring Break trips down south enjoying the beautiful weather and a handful of games. Here’s how yesterday’s action went down. As always, thank you to Orlin & Cohen for sponsoring this weekly segment
Division-I:
St. John’s 5, University of Albany 9
Final: Albany 9, St. John’s 5
Freshman Dylan Banner earned the 6 out save with 3 strikeouts pic.twitter.com/l8i0hIpkZm
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 10, 2023
Both offenses exploded in the opening frame. Albany tallied three runs in the first inning, off two RBI doubles by right fielder Dan Tauken and catcher Chris Fisher. The Red Storm responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs. Center fielder David Glancy got St. John’s on the board with a two-run blast. Third baseman Marty Higgins and shortstop Jace Jeremiah both knocked RBI singles which completed the four-run eruption. Both teams got on the scoresheet in the fifth inning scoring one run apiece. Tauken blasted a solo shot which was his second of an eventual four RBI day which evened the score. Higgins hit his second RBI single of the game to claim the lead right back. Albany took control of the game in the eighth by scoring five runs. Shortstop Devan Kruzinski opened the scoring with an RBI single which tied the game. Albany then tallied two runs, one via throwing error and one via wild pitch. Dan Tauken capped off the inning with his third hit of the game which was a two-run RBI single. Relief pitcher Dylan Banner threw two shutout innings to end the game, along with three strikeouts. Both teams will face-off in the middle game of a three game set Saturday at 1:00 PM EST.
Stony Brook DH
Game 1: Stony Brook 11, Lafayette College 6
Game 2: Stony Brook 9, Lafayette College 7
T8 | JT Domination 😤
The right-hander has six K’s through two innings 👀
🌊🐺 x #NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/WG2ABMO00f
— Stony Brook Baseball (@StonyBrookBASE) March 10, 2023
Stony Brook got out to an early lead in the opening opener of the doubleheader. The Seawolves tallied two runs in the first inning, via a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Shane Paradine and an RBI single courtesy of left fielder Matt Brown-Eiring. The Leopards of Lafayette got on the board in the third inning off of an RBI single by left fielder Kaleb Willis. Matt Brown-Eiring responded with a solo blast that gave the Seawolves another two run lead. Lafayette got within one run following a sacrifice fly by shortstop Blaze Fadio. The Leopards held onto the momentum and tacked on and scored two runs in the seventh innings which gave them a lead. First baseman Kyle Chmielewski ripped an RBI double which evened the score and Fadio brought in his second RBI of the game off a single which gave Lafayette the lead. The lead only lasted a short time because Stony Brook responded with six runs in the same inning. Third baseman Evan Giordano woke up the Seawolves by knocking an RBI double. Then Brown-Eiring once again found himself on the scoresheet with his second RBI single of the game. Catcher Chris Leone capped off the inning with an RBI single. Stony Brook continued to jump on pitches and added on two more runs in the eighth inning. Brown-Eiring brought in his fourth run of the game, this time via a groundout and right fielder Matthew Wright brought in the other run. Lafayette fell short of a comeback in the ninth inning but were able to tally two more runs, one off a balk and the other by a groundout from center fielder Justin Grech.
In the second game, Stony Brook grabbed the early lead once again, this time in the second inning off a fielder’s choice. Fadio continued to get on the scoresheet and evened the game in the third inning with an RBI single. Stony Brook then put up four consecutive runs during the fourth and fifth frames. First baseman Brett Paulsen knocked an RBI single in the fourth and Evan Giordano and Matt Brown-Eiring hit an RBI double and single respectively in the fifth. Lafayette continued to respond and pulled within two runs in the sixth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly and an RBI knock by Chmielewski. The Seawolves tallied another run off a well executed double steal which resulted in right fielder Derek Yalon stealing home. Stony Brook continued to pile on runs and added three more in the eighth inning. Short stop Matt Miceli opened the scoring with an RBI groundout and then Yalon brought in two runs with an RBI single. The Leopards attempted to stage another late rally, but this fell just short. Center fielder Justin Grech contributed an RBI single and third baseman Sief Ingram blasted a two-run shot which reduced the Seawolves lead to just two. Stony Brook reliever JT Raab secured the save and sealed the double header sweep. These teams will play the final game of a three-game set Sunday at 12:00PM EST.
Fordham 3, Quinnipiac 2 (10 innings)
WALK-OFF WIN! pic.twitter.com/G4BT1tNpmH
— Fordham Baseball (@FordhamBaseball) March 10, 2023
The Bobcats jumped out to a two-run lead in the opening frame thanks to an RBI double by first baseman Sebastian Mueller. The Rams got within one run in the fourth inning off an RBI single by backstop Tommy MacAndrews. MacAndrews then brought in his second RBI of the game which tied the game in the ninth inning. His clutch sacrifice fly allowed T.J. Wachter to score. Wachter was not only responsible for scoring the tying run, but he also brought in the game winning run in the tenth inning. The designated hitter knocked an RBI single which sealed the victory for the Rams. A steller relief performance by Fordham pitcher Ben Kovel was a massive part of the victory. The right handed pitcher tallied the win and proceeded to strike out eight Bobcats across three innings of relief. These teams are back at it for game two of a three game set Saturday at 1:00 PM EST.
Division-II:
Adelphi 8, St. Thomas Aquinas 7
Adelphi came out hot and tallied six runs in the first inning. Second baseman Anthony Cipri launched a three-run shot to open the scoring. Right fielder Tim Feliz knocked an RBI double and third baseman Albert Ramos followed that with a two-run RBI single. The Spartans did not bow down and put up six consecutive runs themselves. The rally began in the third inning off a sacrifice fly by second baseman C.J. Cumbo. First baseman Gregory DiGiaro crushed a two-run homerun in the fourth which brought the Spartans to within three runs. Right Fielder Andrew Guerra hit an RBI single in the fifth. The Spartans evened the score in the sixth inning via an RBI double by catcher Billy Minett and a sacrifice fly by center fielder David Potenza. Cipri got the Panthers the lead right back in the home half of the inning with an RBI double. The Spartans rallied once again and forced extra innings thanks to DiGiaro, who drove in his third run of the day. The Panthers walked it off in the tenth inning courtesy of designated hitter Alec Magg who knocked an RBI single to right field. Adelphi continues their Spring Break Florida trip Saturday against Barry University at 6:00 PM EST.
Molloy 1, Lynn University 9
Starting pitchers Charlie Cucchiara of Molloy and Drew Dwyer of Lynn kept the scoreboard quiet throughout the opening four frames. Designated hitter Shawn Dougherty got Lynn on the board with a solo blast in the fifth inning. Lynn tacked on another run in the fifth off a passed ball. The Fighting Knights found themselves back on the scoreboard this time via a two-run blast by left fielder Leon Paulino. Molloy got on the scoresheet in the eighth inning thanks to alert baserunning by shortstop Chris Einemann, who crossed home plate when Robby Keane stole second base. Lynn responded in the same inning by adding onto their lead with five insurance runs. A fielding error opened the scoring and first baseman David Judge launched a grand slam which put the game out of reach. Molloy continues the Lynn Invitational Saturday against Bloomfield College at 2:30 PM EST.
Queens College
Game 1: Queens 5, Goldey-Beacom College 3
Game 2: Queens 1, Goldey-Beacom College 4
Both offenses got out of the gate fast, scoring in the first inning of the opener. Third baseman Kyle Walker of Goldey-Beacom hit a single that brought in the first run of the game, although that run was unearned. Second baseman Darin Miller followed up with an RBI double and designated hitter Dante DiSabatino capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly. Queens responded with three runs in their half of the frame. Queens got on the board off of a wild pitch. Left fielder Reed Hoskins knocked an RBI single, followed by an RBI walk by second baseman Andrew Ramirez to tie the game up. Queens then took the lead via a two-run blast by Hoskins, who brought in his second and third runs of the game. Jordan Sanabria delivered a strong six inning start and Danny Gargano notched his second save of the season after throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
In game 2, Goldey-Beacom once again got out to an early lead. The Lightning tallied two runs in the second frame. Disabatino hit a sacrifice fly and catcher Nick Harkins knocked an RBI single. The Lightning added onto their lead in the third inning via an RBI single by Miller and a groundout by right fielder Marlon Lindsey. Queens got on the board in the sixth inning via an RBI single by Jorsixt Jimenez. Tommy Federici was just one out short of going the distance and finished with an impressive state line of 6.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run allowed and six punchouts. Karl Schmidt registered the final out to get the save. These teams will play another double header Sunday with the first game starting at 12:00 PM EST.
Division-III:
Farmingdale 10, Northland 5
The Rams did not wait long to get on the scoresheet. A five-run opening inning that began off two RBI walks and two wild pitches set the tone for the game. Third baseman Nolan White capped off the scoring in the first with an RBI single. The Rams continued to build their lead and tacked on three more runs in the second inning. Alert base running by center fielder Ryan Wasserman scored on a fielding error. Right fielder Daniel Deutsch hit an RBI single and White brought in his second run of the game this time off a sacrifice fly. Northland got on the score sheet in the fifth inning off an RBI groundout and an RBI single by third baseman Kazdion Mount. The Rams answered right back with two runs in the same frame which began with a Daniel Molina RBI double. The center fielder would then score on a fielding error. Northland tacked on three runs in a ninth inning rally which was highlighted by a two-run RBI double by first baseman Zach Ross. Farmingdale will play a doubleheader Saturday against Concordia-M’head beginning at 4:30 PM EST.
Old Westbury
(No box score available)
Maritime
Game 1: Maritime 21, CCNY 4
Game 2: Maritime 22, CCNY 7
Maritime jumped out to a thirteen run lead after just three innings of play. Second baseman Nick Pinggera launched a solo shot in the opening frame. A two-run single by left fielder Chris Felder capped off the three-run opening frame. The Privateers then put up six in the second inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Jake Bernardi. Maritime tacked on four more runs in the following inning which increased their lead to thirteen. The Beavers got on the board in the fourth via a grand slam by left fielder Rich Cirigliano. The Privateers responded by adding four more runs in both the fifth and sixth inning. During these two innings, the Privateers blasted three home runs. Center fielder Matt Milone hit a three-run shot (4 RBIs in the game), and both Ryan Wood and Randy Ventura smashed two-run shots. Designated hitter Rob Copozzi finished the day with three runs, two hits, and two RBIs.
Maritime continued their offensive explosion in the second game. The Beavers got on the board first in this one via a Jonathan Rivera three-run home run. Maritime then put up nine consecutive runs during the second and third innings. Felder continued to smash the ball in this game as well, and tallied three RBIs in this stretch, including a solo blast in the third. Shortstop Jaden Shea launched a solo home run as well. CCNY got another run on the board in the fourth inning, but Maritime responded with thirteen consecutive runs. Shea continued to attack the ball and hit a two-run RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The Privateers then brought in multiple runs without the bats via hit by pitches, and bases on balls. The Beavers tallied three runs in the sixth which began via a John Creegan tow-run RBI double. Brandon Stanley registered the win and struck out eight Beavers across five innings. Maritime will play another doubleheader Sunday against Centenary (NJ) beginning at 12:00 PM EST.
