Library News
STEVENS TAKES TWO FROM UTICA IN EMPIRE 8 BASEBALL ACTION
Written By Gil Burgmaster
The Utica College baseball team lost both ends of a double header to Empire 8 Conference foe Stevens Institue of Technology Saturday afternoon at the UC baseball field. The Pioneers dropped game one 8-4, before falling 4-1 in the night cap.
#15 Kelvin Cabrera
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
UTICA, NY – The Utica College baseball team lost both ends of a double header to Empire 8 Conference foe Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon at the UC baseball field. The Pioneers dropped game one 8-4, before falling 4-1 in the night cap.
With the pair of losses the Pioneers are now 4-24 overall and 0-14 in conference play, while the ducks eclipsed the ten-win mark on the year, improving to 10-26 overall with a 3-11 conference mark.
In game one the Pioneers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning, after loading the bases by taking advantage of two defensive errors, and freshman utility player Chris Hine (Brick/Brick, NJ) roped a single to rightfield, scoring senior second baseman Scott Taglaiferri (Rome Free Academy/Rome) and freshman rightfielder Justin Engelhardt (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown, PA). Senior designated hitter Kelvin Cabrera (Hoboken/Hoboken, NJ), who was making his first appearance since suffering an eye injury ten games ago, lined a single up the middle to score junior centerfielder Adam Keller (Rome Free Academy/Rome), giving UC a commanding 3-0 lead.
UC added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead when senior first baseman Daniel Kreisler (Elmira Southside/Elmira) lobbed a single over Steven’s shortstop Eddie Daniele (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers), scoring senior leftfielder Richard Hamlin (Cicero N. Syracuse/Cicero). Hamlin reached base with a leadoff double in the fourth.
The Ducks began their game-winning charge late in game one, scoring all eight of their runs in the final three innings of the contest, including a five-run top of the seventh. The Ducks tacked on two runs in the sixth inning to cut the UC lead to 4-3 behind a two RBI double from Ken Meerendonk (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township), scoring Matt Glassman (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) and John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Paramus Catholic). Things really fell apart for the Pioneers in the final inning as the Ducks tallied four hits and took advantage of three UC defensive errors. The first seven Steven’s batters reached base safely in the seventh inning, including singles from David Katusa (Franklin Township, N.J./Franklin Township), Frustaci, Meerendonk and Mike Pagliaro (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) as the Ducks won game one of the four game weekend set.
Sophomore lefty Joe Finora (Mattituck, N.Y./Mattituck) went seven strong innings for Stevens, striking out seven batters and allowing just two earned runs in his second win of the season, while his counterpart, senior captain Kevin McCormick (Notre Dame/New Hartford) scattered seven hits over six innings of work on the hill for UC. McCormick forced 13 groundball outs for the Pioneers in his second loss of the season, while freshman Mike Gibbons (Waterville/Waterville) gave up three runs in relief of McCormick.
The Ducks took an early lead in game two that they would not relinquish after scoring three runs in the top of the third inning. Another two RBI double by Meerendonk, his team-best ninth of the season, scored Mark Rasulo (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington) and Daniele to open the scoring in the third for the Ducks. Denis Ackermann (Rutherford, N.J./Ritherford) followed with an RBI double of his own, scoring Meerendonk from second, to close out the third inning scoring.
UC threatened in the bottom half of the fourth inning after Keller doubled and eventually scored on a sacrifice groundout by Hine to cut the Stevens’ lead to 3-1. The Ducks would add the final tally of the game in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring.
Dan Anunziatta (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) pitched a complete game, striking out four and scattering nine hits on the mound for Stevens. The win marked his third of the season and he did not allow an earned run all day. Junior lefty Mike Sadallah (New Hartford/New Hartford) went the distance for the Pioneers in game two, striking out two on the day. He also picked off three baserunners on the day.
UC's Kelvin Cabrera, a native of Hoboken, NJ, went 5-for-6 at the dish to pace the Pioneers on the day, while senior classmate Scott Tagliaferri tallied three hits on the day.
Both teams return to action Sunday at the Utica College baseball field. The Empire 8 Conference contest, which is the final double-header of the season for both squads, is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
--- www.ucpioneers.com ---