by Andy Smith
Many teams scurried to get their games in before Saturday’s impending storm. Some even played a double header to not fall behind on games. Heres’ how it went down…
Stony Brook
Game 1: Stony Brook 2, University of North Carolina Wilmington 7
Game 2: Stony Brook 7, University of North Carolina Wilmington 4
And the ball game is over!
Matty Wright seals the dub with this #SCTop10 grab 🙌
🌊🐺 x #NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/qv1Vko1Cs6
— Stony Brook Baseball (@StonyBrookBASE) March 24, 2023
The Seahawks got out to an early lead in the second inning thanks to a solo shot by center fielder Trevor Marsh. UNC-Wilmington added onto their lead in the fourth inning by tallying three runs which was kickstarted by a fielding error. A two-run RBI single by left fielder Dillion Lifrieri did the rest of the damage. The Seahawks continued to attack and tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning with an RBI groundout, followed by an RBI single by second baseman Brock Wills. Their final run of the opening game came in the seventh via an RBI double by designated hitter John Newton. The Seawolves plated their two runs in the seventh and eighth innings. First baseman Brett Paulsen got Stony Brook on the scoresheet with an RBI knock and center fielder Evan Fox scored the second run on a wild pitch. Winning pitcher, Jacob Shafer kept the Seawolves contained through 6.2 innings and only surrendered one run and two hits.
The Seahakws jumped out to a lead via their power once again. Two solo shots in the third inning by first baseman Tanner Thach and right fielder Alec DeMartino put them on top. The Seawolves responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single by Fox and a two-run blast by third baseman Evan Giordano which gave them a one-run lead. Giordano has been the backbone of this offense through the first month of play and continued his dominance on Friday. The Seahawks evened the score in the fifth by an RBI knock by Lifrieri. Lifrieri then gave UNC-Wilmington the lead in the seventh with a solo shot. Stony Brook got the run back in the bottom half of the frame and quickly tied the score via alert baserunning on a wild pitch. The Seawolves then grabbed their lead in the eighth and did not look back. Right fielder/center fielder Derek Yalon gave Stony Brook the lead with an RBI single and shortstop Matt Miceli ripped an RBI triple that scored two. These teams will face off Sunday for the rubber match of this three-game set at 12:00 PM EST.
Fordham
Game 1: Fordham 6, Seton Hall 5
Game 2: Fordham 9, Seton Hall 6
The happy highlights from today’s DH sweep!
(Courtesy of PSN on FloSports) pic.twitter.com/77E3x4oQMp
— Fordham Baseball (@FordhamBaseball) March 24, 2023
The Rams claimed the first lead of the day in the second inning off a three-run shot by second baseman Zach Selinger. The Pirates responded by putting up two runs in the third off a double by shortstop Max Viera. Fordham got back on the scoresheet in the following inning via a two-run RBI double by third baseman Michael Taylor. Fordham added onto their lead in the fifth off a solo blast by first baseman Peter DeMaria. Seton Hall mounted a rally in the seventh and closed the gap with a two-run knock by left fielder Will Gale and a wild pitch which resulted in another run crossing the plate. Ben Kovel then entered the game and secured the save while striking out two.
In the second game, Fordham once again grabbed the first lead. In the second, the Rams tallied four runs which was kickstarted with an RBI double by catcher Tommy McAndrews and capped off with two RBI singles by shortstop Nico Boza and center fielder Ryan Thiesse (2 RBI). Seton Hall put up one in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single by backstop Jedier Hernandez. The Pirates cut the Fordham lead to two in the third with an RBI knock by third baseman Pat D’Amico. Seton Hall continued to claw back and tallied another run in the seventh via an RBI single by second baseman Zack Sylvester. Seton Hall then claimed the lead in the eighth with a three-run inning that began with a single by D’Amico who notched his second RBI of the game. In their final at bat the Rams swept the double header in walk-off fashion. A bunt single by right fielder Cian Sahler got the Rams within one and a grand slam by Selinger pushed them over the top Selinger blasted two homers between both games. Fordham looks to sweep the three game set Sunday at 1:00PM EST.
Hofstra 5, North Carolina A&T 9
Right fielder Brian Morrell opened the scoring for the Pride in the second frame with a solo homerun. Left fielder Will Kennedy added onto that in the following inning with an RBI double. The Aggies evened the score in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run shot by third baseman Cort Maynard. Hofstra claimed their lead right back in the fourth and tallied three runs which was started by an RBI single by shortstop Michael Florides and capped off with a double which scored two by center fielder Dylan Palmer. The Aggies got within one run of the Hofstra lead in the bottom half of the frame via a two-run blast by second baseman Tre Williams. North Carolina A&T continued to attack Hofstra pitchers and eventually grabbed their lead in the following inning via a fielder’s choice and an RBI double by Williams. The Aggies increased their lead in the eighth off a two-run RBI double by center fielder TJ Ash and an RBI single by shortstop Sabin Roane. Hofstra looks to even the series Saturday at 3:00 PM EST.
LIU
Game 1: LIU 8, Stonehill 0
Game 2: LIU 11, Stonehill 4
It was all LIU in the first game – both games, really. The Sharks got their first tallies in the third frame via a two-run shot by second baseman Jack Power. The Sharks put up another run in the following frame via an RBI knock by shortstop Christopher Hund. LIU tallied two more runs in the fifth via great baserunning by right fiedler Jake Mastillo who scored on a throwing error and Jack Power who stole home. Mastillo then got back on the score sheet in the seventh and ninth with two solo home runs. An RBI single by catcher Connor Price put up the eighth run for LIU in the final frame. Alec Huertas notched his second win of the season with an impressive eight inning performance with six punchouts and only surrendering two hits.
The Sharks carried their momentum into the second game. LIU got on the board in the second inning with an RBI knock by third baseman Brian O’Boyle. The Sharks tacked on three more runs in the fourth off a throwing error and a sacrifice fly. The Sharks did not let up, and tacked on three more in the fifth which was highlighted by O’Boyle talling his third RBI of the game. In the sixth, LIU put up two more runs off an RBI hit by pitch and another fielding error. Stonehill got on the scoresheet in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double by left fielder Connor Kiely and two RBI singles, one each by shortstop Jack Marshall and right fielder Blaine Lidsky. Both teams traded runs in the eighth. LIU earned theirs off a sacrifice fly and Stonehill got theirs via an RBI knock by third baseman Dennis Folan. Left fielder Carlton Harper put up LIU’s eleventh and final run in the ninth with an RBI single. LIU goes for the sweep Saturday at 1:00PM EST.
St. John’s
Game 1: St. John’s 8, Richmond 5
Game 2: St. John’s 2, Richmond 3
Game one DUB! Game two coming up next! #SJUBase pic.twitter.com/orsifRdZd0
— St. John’s Baseball (@StJohnsBaseball) March 24, 2023
The Spiders jumped to an early lead in the second thanks to an RBI single by right fielder Christian Beal. Richmond doubled their lead in the fourth off a sacrifice fly. The Red Storm responded in the second half of the frame and evened the score off a balk and an RBI groundout. Richmond answered with three runs in the following inning which began with an RBI double by catcher Jason Neff and ended with an RBI double by third baseman Jordan Jaffe. St. John’s would then put up six consecutive runs, three in the sixth and three more in the eighth. Two RBI singles in the sixth, one by designated hitter Austin Machado (2 RBI) and left fielder Paul Orbon evened the score. Orbon got back on the scoresheet in the eighth with a two-run knock and an RBI hit by pitch by backstop Tate Ballestero capped off the strong finish. The winning pitcher Nick Cirelli was dominant out of the pen for St. John’s, with four shutout innings of two – hit baseball.
St. John’s struck first in the second game by scoring off a wild pitch. Richmond evened the score in the third via an RBI double shortstop Mike Kluska. The Red Storm reclaimed their lead in the fifth with an RBI groundout on a double play. The Spiders once again tied the game, this time in the fifth with a solo shot by second baseman Jared Sprague-Lott. The Spiders then tallied the winning run in the sixth with an RBI double by left fielder Johnny Hipsman. Esteban Rodriguez was lights out across four shutout innings of relief. The right hander struck out eight and tallied his first save of the campaign. The rubber match of this series will take place Sunday at 12:00 PM EST.
Division-II:
Adelphi
Game 1: Adelphi 2, University of New Haven 9
Game 2: Adelphi 1, University of New Haven 4
In the first game, the Chargers got out to an early lead in the second with a two-run single by shortstop Kenneth Franquiz. The Panthers offense was quiet but finally got on the board in the fifth off an RBI groundout by left fielder Kyle Olson. The Chargers responded by tallying four runs in the bottom half of the frame. A two-run RBI double by designated hitter Cole Maucere got the bats going and an RBI triple by third baseman Andrew Cain tacked on another. Olson got back on the scoresheet in the seventh with an RBI knock. The Chargers did not lay down and scored three more in the eighth off a three run blast by first baseman Andrew Bianco.
New Haven came out again in the second game and tacked on three runs in the opening frame. Both left fielder Owen Pincine and catcher Josh Lester hit RBI singles. Catcher Jose Matos got Adelphi on the board in the third with a solo shot. However, the Chargers responded with a solo blast of their own in the bottom half of the frame by third baseman Andrew Cain. New Haven pitchers held Adelphi to only four hits in this game. Both teams are back at it with another double header on Sunday beginning at 12:00 PM EST.
Molloy
Molloy 9, Mercy 4
The Lions opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a four run spot. Right fielder Anthony Manisero opened the scoring with an RBI double and designated hitter Chris Peralta capped it off with a three run blast. Mercy cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the frame with two RBI singles, one each by center fielder Jaden Caballero and Gabe Sanders. Manisero knocked an RBI single in the fourth to increase the lead to three. Manisero then got back on the scoresheet, this time in the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Third baseman Aidan Larkin also hit a two-run single in the same frame. Mercy got one run back in the bottom half of the inning off an RBI single by backstop Jared Hernandez. The Mavericks got within four runs in the eighth off a wild pitch. Molloy put up their ninth run in the final inning off an RBI double by left fielder JJ DeVito. Charlie Cucchiara earned his fourth win of the season and continued his strong start with a seven inning performance.
Queens
Queens 10, College of Staten Island 9
Staten Island got on the board first in this back and forth game with a two-run shot by first baseman Anthony Vigliotti in the opening frame. The Knights cut the lead in half in the second with an RBI single by catcher Nick Barreiros. The Dolphins put up four runs in the third inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by right fielder Tylor Martinez. Staten Island put up two more in the following inning which was kickstarted by Vigliotti who notched his third RBI of the day and second hit. The Knights got three runs back in the bottom half of the frame to close the gap to four. Two RBI singles, one each by center fielder Jayson Rodopoulos and shortstop Francis Segarra did most of the damage. Queens added another run and continued to close the gap with a solo blast by Rodopoulos in the sixth. Staten Island would tally their ninth and final run of the game in the eighth inning via an RBI single by Martinez who finished with three hits and four RBIs. Queens saved their offensive push for the final frame and walked the game off in style. Pinch hitter Matt Filip lined a two-run RBI double to start the rally. Then, third baseman Andrew Ramirez ripped a two-run RBI triple which tied the game, and he eventually scored the winning run on a wild pitch. These teams will face off Sunday for the second game of the three-game set at 12:00 PM EST.
