by Max Edelman
College baseball is back – and we had one of the biggest upsets in a decade happen right off the bat. Without further ado, here’s how it went down.
Division-1:
St. John’s: St John’s 9 – Florida 5
St. John’s takes down No. 4 Florida on opening night 👀
(🎥 @StJohnsBaseball)
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 17, 2024
The St. John’s Red Storm started their season with a bang, upsetting the No. 2 ranked Florida Gators 9-5 on the road. The Red Storm scored seven runs in the first three innings and never looked back, as they upset one of the top teams in the country, spoiling Florida’s home opener in the process.
The three innings saw a Red Storm strike, as five different St John’s players brought in runs. In total, seven members of St. John’s drove in runs during Friday’s contest. Garrett Scavelli and Anthony Brienza each drove in two, while Tucker Jackson, Blake Mayberry, Jimmy Keenan, Aries Samek and Ben Beaucamp each drove in one. Jackson’s RBI came on a home run, Brienza’s came on a triple and Keenan and Scavelli’s came on doubles.
Red Storm pitching held the Gators to only three extra-base hits the entire game. Two of which came off the bat of Colby Shelton, who hit a double and a home run in the game. The starter for St. John’s, Xavier Kolhosser, was the winning pitcher. Through five innings, Kolhosser struck out one, walked four and allowed five runs on seven hits. However, the bullpen that included TJ Winn, Ben Adams and Sam Mettert combined to allow no runs in four innings to close out the upset victory for St. John’s.
Cade Fisher started for the Gators and had a rough outing. Fisher only got through two innings, striking out four and walking two while allowing six runs on five hits. Fisher was the losing pitcher as well.
The Red Storm are 1-0 and will continue their series against the Gators on Saturday.
Hofstra: Virginia 10 – Hofstra 8
FINAL SCORE: No. 11/14 Virginia 10, #Hofstra 8#PrideOfLI pic.twitter.com/0rujtk6xPH
— Hofstra Baseball (@HofstraBaseball) February 16, 2024
Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Hofstra Pride could not finish off the upset in their opening day game against the Virginia Cavaliers in a 10-8 loss. Hofstra built an early 4-1 lead, but a Cavalier offensive onslaught in the sixth gave them a 7-4 lead. While Hofstra did eventually tie the game at seven going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Virginia exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, which carried them to the win.
The Pride were led offensively by right fielder Steve Harrington. Who went three for four with two RBI’s. Also with two RBI’s was designated hitter Alex McCoy. While right fielder Will Kennedy, first baseman Sean Lane and center fielder Matt Pelcher each added one RBI of their own. Pelcher’s RBI came on a solo home run, while Kennedy and McCoy both had a double in the contest.
Michael O’Hanlon started on the mound for the Pride. Tossing five innings, striking out five and allowing three runs and three hits. Matt Haggerty, Penn Sealey, Mike McKenna and Brian Hart made appearances in relief, with Hart picking up the loss as the losing pitcher.
For the Cavaliers, it was Harrison Didawick who led the charge on offense with a home run and two RBI’s. Jack O’Connor started the game for Virginia. Tossing four innings, striking out three and allowing four runs on three hits. Blake Barker was the inning pitcher in relief and Aidan Teel got the save.
The Pride are 0-1 on the season and will play the second game of their three game series against the Cavaliers Saturday.
Stony Brook: Purdue 6 – Stony Brook 0
The Stony Brook Seawolves were silenced in their opening game of the season by the Purdue Boilermakers 6-0. Purdue jumped out to a lead in the first inning and never looked back, scoring three runs in their first two innings at the plate. As well as three runs in their last two innings at the plate.
The Seawolves only had six hits. Evan Goforth and Matt Brown-Eiring each hat two singles. While Robert Taylor and Nicholas Solorzano each had one double apiece. Eddie Smnik struggled in his first start of the year. In five innings of work, Smnik struck out three, walked four and allowed three runs on five hits. Smnik was tagged as the losing pitcher. Erik Paulsen and Matthew Jackson pitched in relief for the Seawolves
For the Boilermakers, the offensive leader was Connor Caskenette. Who hit a two run home run. Their starting pitcher, Jordan Morales, threw five scoreless innings, struck out four and allowed five hits. Jackson Dannelley picked up the save.
The Seawolves are 0-1 and will continue their series against Purdue with a double header on Saturday.
Fordham: Wake Forest 9 – Fordham 3
In their first game of the season, the Fordham Rams were defeated by the No. 1 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons 9-3. Although Fordham did score a run in the top of the first inning, Wake Forest responded with seven unanswered runs, and their pitching shut the door on the Rams offense, holding them to only six total hits in the game.
The Rams offense was spearheaded by Steve Luttazi, who hit a two run home run in the top of the eighth inning. The other run was driven in by Tommy McAndrews, who went two for three in the contest. Chris Genaro picked up the only other extra base hit in the game. Declan Lavelle started for the Rams. In four innings, Lavelle allowed four runs on two hits, but only one of the runs was earned. Lavelle struck out three, walked four and was the losing pitcher.
For Wake Forest, leadoff hitter Adam Tellier hit the Demon Deacons first home run of the season in their first at bat of the season. Josh Hartle got the start, and pitched 5.2 innings of one run ball in a winning effort.
The Rams are 0-1 on the year and will take on Akron Saturday at Wake Forest.
LIU: FIU 6 – LIU 4
Although they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, the Long Island University Sharks could not finish off the Florida International University Panthers, who took down the Sharks 6-4. Through four innings, the Sharks were up four. But a three run fifth inning for the Panthers started a stretch of three innings where the Panthers scored six unanswered runs to finish off the Sharks in game one of their three game series.
Jack Power ppowered in a run for the Sharks with a solo shot in the second inning. JC Navarro and Jake Mastillo each drove in a run for the Sharks, while Carlton Harper scored on a double steal attempt. Max Samson had the only other extra base hit, doubling in the third inning. Garrett Yawn got the start for the Sharks. In 4.1 innings, Yawn had four strikeouts, walked three and gave up three runs on five hits. Jack VanDoran, Evan Panjwani and PJ Morwitz, who was the losing pitcher, all pitched in relief.
Ryne Guida roared for the Panthers on offense, driving in three of the Panthers six runs, as well as having one of his team’s three doubles. Jackson Ritchey struggled in his first start of the year. Lasting only three innings, striking out four with two walks while allowing four runs on four hits. However, the Panthers bullpen was lockdown, as Logan Runde and Ryan Cabarcas combined for six shutout innings. Runde was the winning pitcher and Cabarcas picked up the save.
The Sharks are 0-1 and will play a double header against FIU on Saturday.
Molloy: Molloy 6 – Felician 3
The Molloy Lions opened their season with a victory over the Felician Golden Falcons in North Carolina by a score of 6-3. The Lions used consecutive one run innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings in order to pick up the victory in their season opening game.
The Molloy offense was lead by Anthony Manisero, who drove in two runs. While Aidan Larkin, Jack Coogan and Chris Giardino each drove in one. Coogan and Larkin had the only extra base hits for the Lions, Coogan with a triple and Larkin with a double. The Lions only used two pitchers. Charlie Cucchiara, who was the winning pitcher, started and pitched the first five innings of the game. Cucchiara struck out seven, walked one and allowed two runs on five hits. JC Kiss pitched in relief, tossing four innings of one run baseball in which he picked up the save.
For the Golden Eagles, the offense was led by Dauri Genao, who hit a home run in the eighth inning. Starting pitcher Mike Caldon was the losing pitcher and starter. Caldron tossed four innings, struck out eight, walked four and allowed three runs on five hits.
The Lions are 1-0 and will play No. 6 Millersville tomorrow in North Carolina.
