The college baseball season is in full swing and we had an exciting upset down in Baton Rouge that had baseball fans feeling like it was 2012 all over again!
Here’s how it went down:
Division-I
Stony Brook 5 – LSU 2
The Stony Brook Seawolves went on the road and shocked the No. 2 ranked Louisiana State University Tigers 5-2. After the two teams scored two runs each in the second inning, the Tigers were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, while the Seawolves offense scored one run in the fourth, and two in the eighth to give Stony Brook an improbable victory over LSU, handing the Tigers there first loss of the year.
The Seawolves offense was anchored by junior Robert Taylor. Taylor went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Cam Santerre and Matt Miceli had the other two RBI’s. Eddie Smink got the start for the Seawolves and was the winning pitcher. In five innings, Smink allowed two runs on three hits, struck out seven and walked three. Erik Paulsen threw the final four innings of the game and was outstanding. Paulsen struck out seven, walked one and allowed three hits to pick up the save.
Both of the Tigers’ runs came on an error when Paxton Kling was up to bat. Thatcher Hurd started the game for the Tigers. In 4.1 innings, Hurd tossed eight strikeouts to four walks, and allowed three runs on six hits. Hurd was also charged with the loss in the game. With the win the Seawolves move to 3-4, and will play Northwestern St. Saturday before gearing up for a rematch with LSU on Sunday.
Houston 12 – St. John’s 6
The St. John’s Red Storm fell to the Houston Cougars 12-6. After two of the Red Storm’s games were canceled last weekend against the University of Florida, St. John’s returned to action and fell to the University of Houston. The Cougars used a strong first inning to propel them to the win, and their fifth straight to open the year.
Jackson Tucker and Marty Higgins led the way for the Red Storm with two RBIs each, with Garrett Scavelli and Ben Beauchamp not far behind with one each. Xavier Kolhosser started the game. Tossing four innings of four run ball, struck out two, walked six and was charged with the loss.
The Cougars offense was propelled by Justin Murray and Ace Reece, who both hit home runs in the contest. Jaxon Jelkin started the game for Houston, tossing 4.1 innings, striking out six and allowing two runs. Owen Woodward was the winning pitcher for the Cougars. The Red Storm are 1-1 and will continue their series with the Cougars on Saturday.
Miami 9 – LIU 3
The Long Island University Sharks were unable to complete the upset, as they were defeated on the road against the University of Miami Hurricanes 9-3. Despite taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hurricanes exploded for seven runs in the eighth, turning what was once a close game into a dominant Miami Victory.
JC Navarro was the teams leader in RBI’s in the contest, collecting two in one swing when he connected on a home run in the sixth inning. The only other Sharks run was brought in by Jack Power, who had an RBI single in the fourth. Garrett Yawn started the game for the Sharks. Yawn tossed six strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of work. Jack VanDoran was charged with the loss for LIU.
Miami’s offense was led by Daniel Cuvet, who tripled and homered in the game, and had three RBI’s. Gage Ziehl started for the Hurricanes and tossed seven innings of three run ball. Nick Robert was the winning pitcher for the team. The Sharks are 0-4 and will continue to search for their first win when they continue their series against Miami on Saturday.
Hofstra 9 – Liberty 7
The Hofstra Pride picked up their first win of the season today as they went on the road to take down the Liberty Flames 9-7 in the first game of a three game series between the two teams. Despite getting out to an early 7-1 lead, the Pride let the lead slip away, as the Flames eventually came back to tie the game at seven. However, the Pride were able to scratch across two additional runs, to lock up the victory and give Hofstra their first win of the young season.
Hofstra’s offense was charged by the bats of Alex McCoy and Santino Rosso. Both McCoy and Rosso hit home runs, and recorded three RBI’s. Matt Pelcher collected two RBI’s in the contest. While Will Kennedy had one of his own. Dylan Palmer and Steve Harrington led Hofstra in the run scoring department, scoring three runs each.
Michael O’Hanlon started the game for Hofstra, tossing 5.1 innings, striking out seven, walking three, and allowing seven runs on five hits. Danny Kelleher was the teams winning pitcher while Mike McKenna got the save.
Liberty’s offense was also led by a pair of home run hitters, with both Kane Kepley and Brayden Horton hitting home runs. Cole Hertzer started for the Flames, tossing only one inning, striking out two, and allowing two runs on three hits. Dylan Mathiesen was the losing pitcher for Liberty. Hofstra is 1-3 on the season and will continue their series with Liberty tomorrow.
Fordham 9 – Army 7
The Fordham Rams took home their first victory of the season as they took down the Army Black Knights by a score of 9-7. The Rams jumped out to an early 9-1 lead, and were able to hold off a late Black Knight’s surge to take home their first victory of the season in Deland Florida.
The Rams have a trio of players with two RBI’s. Daniel Bucciero, Madden Ocko and Chris Genaro each had two RBI’s apiece. Tommy McAndrews had one RBI. Ryan Thiesse went 4/5 for the Rams and scored two runs. As a whole, the Rams only struck out a total of three times. Declan Lavelle started the game for the Rams, tossing five innings of one run ball to go along with five strikeouts. Lavelle was the winning pitcher while Koen Smith picked up the save.
Zac Farrell led the Black Knights with two RBI’s. Matthew Ronnebaum was charged as the losing pitcher for Army. Farrell allowed seven runs, three earned on four innings pitched. The Rams are 1-3 and will take on the University of Maine Saturday.
Division-II:
Post 6 – Adelphi 5
The Adelphi Panthers were narrowly defeated by the Post University Eagles by a score of 6-5 in 10 innings in their season opening game in Myrtle Beach. It was a back and forth affair between the Eagles and Panthers, with both teams trading runs throughout the game. But in the end, it was the Eagles who swooped in and stole the win.
Alec Magg and Joe Pellegrino each hit solo home runs for the Panthers. Albert Ramos had two RBI’s, and went 2/4 on the night. LJ Bohne had the other RBI for the Panthers. Philip D’Aguanno led the Panthers in hits on the night, going three for four and scoring one run. John Carver started the game for Adelphi, tossing 3.2 innings, striking out seven, and allowing three runs on five hits. Zach Rovnerv was charged with the loss on the mound for Adelphi.
For the Eagles, Evan Cornwel was the hero, driving in the game winning run on a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning. Joe Christiana started the game, allowing three runs in 4.2 innings of work. Brennan Holligan was the winning pitcher for Post. The Panthers are now 1-0 and will take on Mercy University in a double header on Saturday.
Molloy 8 – Bridgeport 6
The Molloy Lions continued their undefeated start to the season, as they took down Bridgeport Knights 8-6 in Myrtle Beach. The Lions took an early 5-0 lead, and were able to hold off a rally by Bridgeport en route to their fourth straight win to open the season.
Aidan Larkin was stellar for the Lions at the plate, driving in four runs on two hits. Larkin was also one of three Molloy players to record a double in the game. Nicholas Dagnello had two RBIs for the Lions, while Gavin McAlonie drove in one. Sean Serrano led Molloy in runs scored with three. On the mound, Charlie Cucchiara started and was the winning pitcher. Cucchiara tossed five innings of one run ball with four strikeouts.
The Bridgeport offense was led by Justin Leigh and Jeremy Rodrigues, who each hit a home run in the game. James Ackerman was the losing pitcher for the Knights, only lasting 2.1 innings and allowing four runs. The Lions will look to extend their season opening winning streak to five games when they take on Chestnut Hill College in Myrtle Beach.
Queens 4 – Southern New Hampshire 1
The Queens College Knights opened their season in Myrtle Beach S.C. with a 4-1 victory over the Southern New Hampshire Penman 4-1. After being shut out for nearly the entire game, the Knights finally came alive in the bottom of the eighth inning, exploding for four runs, and opening their season with a victory over the Penman.
Marc Cisco opened the scoring for the Knights with an RBI double. Francis Segarra drove in the go ahead run with an RBI single, and Robert Jacobsen broke the game open with a two run double. Jordan Sanabria started the game for Queens, tossing five steller innings. Striking out five, and allowing no runs with only one hit. Freshman Peter Nenadich III pitched the final four innings of the contest, and was the winning pitcher.
The only Southern New Hampshire run was brought in by Nater Wachter on an RBI single in the sixth inning. Frankie DeMaro started the game for the penman, pitching six shutout innings, striking out seven and only allowing two hits. Zachary Gitschier was charged as the losing pitcher. The Knights are 1-0 and will take on Post University in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Division-III:
USMMA 7 – Sage 1
The United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners opened their season with a 7-1 victory over the Russell Sage Gators at home. A three run second inning propelled the Mariners to a dominating victory, where they also took advantage of the four errors made by the Gators throughout the game.
Ben Taylor was the main catalyst on offense for the Mariners, bringing in four of the Mariners seven runs. Tommy Chiapetti chipped in as well with a solo home run. Christian Gamez also contributed with an RBI of his own. Daniel Serna led the Mariners with three runs scored. Tyler Reistetter was stellar as the Mariners starting pitcher. In six shutout innings, Reistetter struck out 14 Gators, and only allowed two hits. Kellen Brown pitched the final inning for USMMA, and recorded his first save of the year.
For the Gators, their only run was scored on a Christian Brown sacrifice fly. Liam Doyle started the game for Russell Sage, tossing five innings, striking out five and allowing five runs (three earned,) on five hits. The Mariners are 1-0 and will take on NYU in a double header on Sunday.
