by Andy Smith
Division-I:
St. Johns 8, Quinnipiac 1
MAKE IT FOUR STRAIGHT!!! Jackson Tucker goes 4-for-4 on the day! pic.twitter.com/MasHSeaCoN
— St. John’s Baseball (@StJohnsBaseball) March 17, 2023
The Red Storm jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning. First baseman Aaron Mann knocked a two-run RBI single, which eventually brought in three runs due to a fielding error. Third baseman Marty Higgins capped off the inning with a groundout that allowed Mann to score. St. Johns added another run to their lead in the following frame via a sacrifice fly by right fielder Luke Orbon. Quinnipiac got on the scoreboard for the only time in the fifth inning off an RBI double by second baseman Kyle Maves. Backstop Tate Ballestero brought in the sixth run for St. Johns with a double in the following inning. The Red Storm then added to their lead with two more runs in the eighth inning that began with Luke Orbon’s second RBI of the game and ended with a fielder’s choice. Orbon had a strong day at the plate by going 3-for-4. These teams will face off again Saturday for the second game of the three-game set at 1:00 PM EST.
Stony Brook 3, College of Charleston 10
The Cougars claimed an early lead in the second frame off a solo blast by first baseman Cole Mathis. The Sea Wolves tied the game in the following inning off an RBI single by center fielder Evan Fox. Charleston got another run in the fourth thanks to some good base running by Mathis from a fielding error to reclaim their lead. The Cougars offense exploded in the fifth, scoring eight runs. A two-run home run by Joseph Mershon kickstarted the inning. Third baseman Luke Wood followed that up with an RBI double. Mathis found himself back on the score sheet, this time with an RBI single. Catcher Jared Kirven would then launch a two-run shot and left fielder Will Baumhofer would cap off the inning with a two-run RBI single. Baumhofer ended the day by going 3 for 4. Designated hitter Shane Paradine got the Sea Wolves back on the board in the sixth inning with a two-run home run. Ty Good was credited as the winning pitcher and delivered a strong performance by striking out eighth across six innings. The Sea Wolves look to get back in the win column tomorrow at 2:00 PM EST.
Hofstra
Game was paused due to an error in rules interpretation. Hofstra was trailing 13-1 at the stoppage. The game will resume Saturday at 10:30 AM EST.
LIU 9, Maryland Eastern Shore 3
The Hawks jumped out to a two-run lead in the opening inning via an RBI double by right fielder Brantley Cutler and an RBI single by center fielder Brian Cordell. The Sharks evened up the score in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-run shot by first baseman JC Navarro. LIU eventually would take the lead for good in the fifth inning by scoring five runs. The Sharks scored two runs off a balk and a wild pitch. Catcher Connor Price then hit a two-run blast which increased the lead by four. The Sharks capped off this inning with another home run, this time a solo shot by designated hitter Keniel De Leon. LIU hit their fourth long ball of the day in the sixth inning, this time courtesy of left fielder Carlton Harper, who scored two runs on the day. Maryland Eastern Shore got back on the board in the eighth via an RBI single by pinch hitter Bryan Widdowson. Alec Huertas notched his first win of the season in a quality start by throwing seven innings with six strikeouts and only surrendering two earned runs. These teams are back at it again Saturday at 1:00 PM EST.
Fordham 4, Fairfield 9
First collegiate home run for Fordham SS Jack Vallario (St. Anthony’s 2022) @SAFriarsBase pic.twitter.com/Xzulq6mrur
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 17, 2023
The Rams got out to an early lead off of a sacrifice fly by left fielder Daniel Bucciero. Fairfield evened the score in the second with a solo blast by designated hitter Mike Handal. Fordham reclaimed the lead in the home half of the second thanks to alert baserunning by second baseman Zach Selinger and a long ball by shortstop Jack Vallario which scored two. Fairfield came back to claim their first lead of the game in the fourth inning and did not look back. Second baseman Mike Becchetti evened the score and third basem an Charlie Pagliarini gave them the lead by both hitting RBI singles. The Stags would then score one run in the fifth off a sacrifice fly, and tally three more in the sixth. First baseman Matt Bergevin started the scoring with an RBI single, and then an RBI single by designated hitter Mike Handal capped off the inning. Jake Noviello, the winning pitcher, threw seven innings for the Stags and struck out six along the way. Fordham looks to bounce back during a double header Saturday against Fairfield beginning at 12:00 PM EST.
Division-II:
Adelphi 9, Bentley 11
Pitchers kept the game scoreless through the first three innings. Bentley’s bats exploded in the fourth and put up 7 runs. Third baseman Steve Rizzuto woke the offense up with an RBI single. Center fielder Joe Cacciatore added to the lead with an RBI double. A three-run blast by first baseman Eddy Beauregard capped off the inning. Adelphi cut into the Bentley lead with a four-run fifth inning that was highlighted by a bases-clearing triple by left fielder Alex Rende. Rende would finish the game with three hits. Bentley recovered and tallied four runs in their half of the inning and got their lead right back. Left fielder Stan DeMartinis III lined a two-run RBI double and Beauregard brought in his fourth run of the game, this time via a single. Catuosco got the Panthers back on the board in the seventh with an RBI knock, his second of the game. Adelphi attempted a rally and scored four runs in the ninth to get within two runs. First baseman Michael Draskin hit an RBI single which opened the scoring. Following an RBI groundout, right fielder Tim Feliz lined an RBI single. Steve Hardiman entered the game to secure the save and collect the final two outs. This game concluded the Panthers’ Florida trip. The Panthers return to Long Island on Tuesday to take on Queens College at 3:00 PM EST.
Division-III:
USMAA 12, Ripon 3
USMAA 3, Alfred St. 2
The Red Hawks got on the board in the first inning by way of a wild pitch. USMAA evened the score in the third via an RBI groundout by designated hitter Tyler Reistetter. Ripon reclaimed their lead in the third with two RBI singles, one each by third baseman Jack Anderson and by first baseman Kyler Hickman. The Mariners took the lead in the fourth inning by putting up six runs. Left fielder Joey Zanetti started the run with a two-run RBI single. A three-run shot by Reistetter capped off the inning and gave them a four run lead. The Mariners tallied another run in the sixth via an RBI single by shortstop Jared Chambers. Two more RBI singles in the eighth from first baseman Travis Leatherwood and catcher Garett Clapsaddle increased their lead to seven. USMAA continued attacking Ripton pitchers and scored their final two runs of the day in the final frame off Chambers’ second hit of the day that drove in two.
In their second game of the day, USMAA jumped out to an early lead thanks to an RBI triple by Chambers. Reistetter carried his momentum from the opening game and launched another home run which scored two in the third inning. Alfred State got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single by right fielder Tim Holler. Michael Monkevich was dominant on the mound for USMAA. Monkevich threw six innings, surrendering only one run and was credited with the victory and a quality start. Caden Pierce entered the game in the final inning to shut the door and struck out two along the way to secure his first save of the season. USMAA is back on the diamond Saturday at 1:00 PM EST to take on Sewanee.
