by Andy Smith
With the dismal weather that hit Long Island yesterday, it’s amazing that some teams were able to get their games in. Fortunately, many of the teams were already way, thus unaffected by cold, windy and rainy conditions. Here’s how it went down…
Division-I:
Game 1: Hofstra, 7, Delaware, 18
Game 2: Hofstra 6, Delaware, 3
Catcher Kevin Bruggeman got the Pride on the board in the opening frame with an RBI double. Delaware responded with a six spot in the bottom half of the first inning. The Blue Hens’ scoring was highlighted by three RBI doubles, one each by left fielder Andrew Amato, center fielder Jake Dunion, and right fielder Brett Lesher. Delaware piled on seven more runs in the fourth. Home runs by designated hitter Bryce Greenly, third baseman Joey Loynd, and Brett Leshner did most of the damage. The Pride got four on the board, which was kickstarted by a three-run blast by first baseman Steve Harrington. Loynd got himself back on the scoresheet in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run smash. Hofstra scored two runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI triple by right fielder Brian Morrell. Delaware continued to put runs on the board and tacked on two more in the seventh inning which was capped off by an RBI knock by Brett Lesher.
Delaware got on the board first in the second game in the second inning via an RBI groundout. The Pride grabbed the lead in the top of the third thanks to a two-run RBI double by Bruggeman. The Blue Hens tied the game in the bottom of the third off another RBI groundout. Hofstra got the lead back in the fourth via an RBI single by designated hitter Dylan Palmer. The Pride put up two more runs in the fifth inning, starting with an RBI double by infielder Ryan Morash. The Pride tallied their sixth run off an error by the Delaware defense in the sixth. The Blue Hens could not stage a comeback this time, but got one run on the board in the bottom half of the sixth off an RBI knock by center fielder Jake Dunion. Hofstra relief pitchers Tristan Nemjo and Michael O’Hanlon (who tallied the save) threw a combined 3.2 shutout innings giving up only one hit. These teams will play the rubber match of the three game set Sunday at 1:00 PM EST.
St. Johns, 11, Albany 2
B7 | 11-2 SJU
WE HAVE ANOTHER TATER!!!! A two-run blast by Ballestero! pic.twitter.com/0WfM9vMFRv— St. John’s Baseball (@StJohnsBaseball) March 11, 2023
The Great Danes jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame thanks to alert baserunning by third baseman Will Binder, who crossed home plate while his teammate Dan Tauken stole second base. The Red Storm evened the score via a solo shot by designated hitter Tate Ballestero in the third inning. St. John’s held onto the momentum and scored six runs in the next frame. An RBI groundout by right fielder Luke Orbon began the scoring in the frame. Ballestero found himself back on the scoresheet once again, this time with an RBI double. A two-run RBI single by Kevin Michaels capped off the impressive stretch. The Red Storm continued to attack Albany pitchers and tacked on two more runs, one in each of the fifth and sixth innings. Albany got one run back in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI single by shortstop Devan Kruzin. Ballestero finished his 4-for-5 day at the plate with his second home run of the game, this time a two-run blast in the seventh inning. These two teams will face off in the rubber match of the three game set on Sunday at 1:00 PM EST.
Fordham 6, Quinnipiac 4
Here’s the happy highlights from today’s win! pic.twitter.com/hOQkMCbukc
— Fordham Baseball (@FordhamBaseball) March 11, 2023
The Rams did not waste any time in this one and put a four-spot on the board in the opening frame. Third baseman Daniel Bucciero started things up for the Rams with an RBI double. Designated hitter Will Findlay followed that up with a two-run RBI double and then scored on a wild pitch. Fordham Starter Gabe Karslo kept the Bobcats quiet up until the fifth inning. Quinnipiac cut the score in half with an RBI groundout, followed by an RBI knock by catcher Christian Smith in the fifth. Fordham responded in their half of the inning with an RBI single by center fielder Ryan Thiesse. Both offsenes were then kept off of the scoreboard until Fordham got back on the score sheet in the eighth inning. A ground-rule RBI double by first baseman Peter DeMaria gave the Rams a four run lead. The Bobcats did not go down easy and almost staged a comeback in the ninth. A two-run RBI double by designated hitter Sean Swenson got the Bobcats within two. Nate Scott then entered the game and secured the save, tallying two punchouts along the way. Fordham looks to sweep the series and make it four wins in a row on Sunday at 12:00PM EST.
LIU 4, Fairleigh Dickinson 5
Left Fielder Carlton Harper jump started the Sharks’ bats with an RBI groundout to give them the early lead. An RBI single by first baseman JC Navarro doubled the score for the Sharks in the opening frame. The Knights got one run on the board in their turn in the inning via an RBI single by catcher George Rosales. FDU then proceeded to tie the game and then take the lead in the third inning. Third baseman Hunter D’Amato evened the score with an RBI knock, followed by a two-run by RBI double by shortstop Joan Sosa to give the Knights the lead. The Sharks evened the score in the fifth inning. An RBI double by shortstop Christopher Hund got the Sharks within one, and then Hund proceeded to tie the game off alert base running while Harper was caught stealing second base. In the sixth, the Knights re-took the lead thanks to an RBI double by center fielder Justin Sierra. Relief pitcher Patrick Gardner shut down the Sharks’ bats with four no-hit frames to end the game while recording five punchouts. The final game of this three-game set will take place Sunday at 1:00 PM EST.
Division-II:
Adelphi 1, Barry University, 17
The Buccaneers were all over Panther pitchers today. Barry launched two home runs in the opening frame, featuring a three – run blast by designated hitter Joe Stella, and a two run shot from pinch hitter Sebastian Garrido. The Buccaneers put up two more runs the following inning via a two-run RBI single by left fielder Kevin Noriega. The Panthers got on the board with an RBI groundout by designated hitter Joe Pellegrino, but that was the end of the scoring for Adelphi. The Buccaneers continued to jump all over Panther pitchers and tallied ten consecutive runs to finish the game. This stretch was highlighted by RBI doubles by left fielder Kevin Noriega and third baseman Jake Ogden. Noriega finished with four RBIs on the day. Mike Reagan was the winning pitcher and delivered a quality start with six strikeouts, one earned run and five hits allowed over 6.2 innings of work. Adelphi continues their Spring Break Florida Trip Sunday against Post University at 4:00 PM EST.
Molloy 8, Bloomfield College 2
Molloy essentially put the game out of reach early with an eight spot in the first inning. Third baseman Aidan Larkin woke up the Lions with a two-run RBI double. Shortstop Chris Einemann followed that up with an RBI single. Then, right fielder Tom Lebrecht drilled a two-run RBI triple. Second baseman Robby Keane hit an RBI single and that was followed by two RBI doubles by left fielder JJ Devito and center fielder Garrett Scavelli. The Bears got on the scoreboard in the third and eighth innings on a passed ball and an RBI single by second baseman Tristian Brandt respectively. Molloy starter Mike Andreoli delivered a dominant stat line of three hits and thirteen strikeouts, through seven innings. Molloy relief pitcher Nicholas Incalcaterra finished the final two innings of the game and struck out five Bears along the way. Molloy continues the Lynn Invitational Sunday against the University of New Haven at 12:00 PM EST.
Division-III:
Farmingdale
Game 1: Farmingdale 4, Concordia-M’head 3
Game 2: Farmingdale 3, Concordia-M’head, 2
The Cobbers jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning. An RBI single by designated hitter Issac Henkemeyer-Howe jump started the bats and catcher Wyatt Gunkel added to the lead with an RBI knock himself. The Rams evened the score in the second inning with two RBI singles, one each by third baseman Nolan White and center fielder Ryan Wasserman. Wasserman then gave the Rams the lead in the fourth inning with his second hit of the game which produced a run on a fielding error. Second baseman Chris McGuggart then drilled an RBI double in the same inning which doubled their lead. Concordia cut the Rams lead in half in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI double by shortstop Thomas Horan. Michael Camardi stalled the Cobber’s rally and tallied his first save of the season across 2.1 no-hit innings with four punchouts.
In game 2, the Cobbers once again got out to an early lead via an RBI groundout. The Rams evened the score in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI hit by pitch. The Cobbers retook the lead with a sacrifice fly by Henkemeyer-Howe in the fourth inning. The Rams then proceeded to sweep the double header in walk-off fashion in the seventh. First baseman Jordan Lambert tied the game with an RBI single and second baseman Nick Pompei reached on a fielding error which allowed McGuggart to score. Daniel Molina tallied the win in relief for the Rams with three no-hit innings. Farmingdale looks to keep the momentum going on Monday with a double header against the University of Minnesota – Morris.
