Stevens Posts Shutout; Houghton Comes Up Short
STEVENS v Baruch
The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team notched a 4-0 shutout victory over Baruch College in CUNYAC action on Tuesday afternoon at MCU Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. Stevens (15-10, 5-2) blanked Baruch (10-17, 3-3) in both meetings this season.
Today's conference game was played at the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones – the Short-Season Class A affiliate of the New York Mets. The CUNYAC Championship on May 8-10 also takes place at MCU Park.
The Ducks used a dazzling performance on the mound by reigning CUNYAC Pitcher of the Week, sophomore
Jayson Yano (Foothill Ranch, Calif.), who struck out seven batters over seven innings and gave up two hits with a walk. Junior
Peirce Marston (Silver Spring, Md.) tossed the final two frames in relief and fanned four batters while allowing just one hit.
Stevens has now recorded double-digit strikeouts from its pitching staff in 12 games, and three other games in which the hurlers tallied nine punch outs.
All four of the Ducks' runs were scored in the top of the sixth inning with two outs. Sophomore
Nicholas Sieber (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drove in the first run on a single that plated junior
Brian Hennelly (Holbrook, N.Y.) and then freshman
Bret Viola (Carmel, N.Y.) stroked a two-run double to bring home senior
Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and Sieber. Freshman
Nolan Bennett (Chatsworth, Calif.) stepped up to the plate next and singled to force sophomore pinch runner
Jonathan Toro (Sanford, Fla.) across the plate.
Junior
Gregg Nickels (Simpsonville, S.C.) went 3-for-3 on the day, while Yano, Allen and junior
Marc Calleo (Bayville, N.J.) each tallied a base hit. Yano also stole a base.
Alfred State v
HOUGHTON
Houghton baseball won game one, 8-4, and lost game two, 5-4, to Alfred State College on Tuesday afternoon.
The games were relocated to Houghton due to poor field conditions in Alfred, making Houghton the visitors on the scoreboard.
The Highlanders and Pioneers went an extra inning in the opening game, but Houghton used four runs in the top of the eighth to grab the win.
The teams exchanged runs in the first inning, with Mike Kerr doubling home Mike Knapp. Houghton added another run in the top of the second to go up 2-1. Brett Rapan tripled and came home on Enrico Sukhdeo's sac fly to centerfield.
The Pioneers scored three times in the bottom of the third to gain a 4-2 advantage, but Knapp drove in Bryan Hodge in the top of the fourth and the Highlanders loaded the bases in the top of the sixth before Kerr walked to drive in the tying run.
Still tied at four at the end of seven, the Highlanders broke the game open in the eighth. Sukhdeo doubled to open the inning and came home on an error by the third baseman that also put Chris McKay on first. After a flyout, Tommy Walker singled to move McKay to third, then Kerr singled home McKay. Trent Unverdorben walked, moving Kerr to second and Walker to third. A wild pitch advanced the runners, bringing Walker home for the Highlanders' third run of the inning. Pat Parsons then grounded out to bring Kerr home. Hodge grounded out to end the Houghton half of the eighth, but the damage had been done. The Pioneers went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Chad Muise started on the mound, allowing four runs on five hits, but it was reliever Seth Cornell who was credited with the win. Cornell came on in the sixth and allowed one hit, while striking out six in three innings of work.
Knapp finished 3 for 4, drove in a run and scored a run. Kerr was 2 for 3 with a run and three RBI. Rapan and Sukhdeo each finished with two hits.
The second game of the day got off to a great start for the Highlanders, who scored a run in the top of the first. Kerr grounded out to drive in Knapp.
After the Pioneers scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the second, Houghton added another run in the third. Rapan singled to drive home Kerr. The Pioneers then scored three runs in the bottom of the third to go up 4-2. But the Highlanders weren't finished and scored solo runs in the fourth and fifth to tie the game at four runs apiece.
However, the Pioneers found the gamewinning run in the bottom of the sixth. Houghton had a chance in the top of the seventh, but with the go-ahead run on second, the Highlanders hit into a double play to end the game.
Walked and Knapp finished with two hits each. Knapp's performance included a triple and a double.
Jared Knowlton went three innings, allowing four runs on three hits. Kyle Flemington went the rest of the way, picking up the loss after allowing one run on two hits.