Freshman Dan Louis has allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings of relief this season. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. – Freshman designated hitter John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Paramus Catholic) hit a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team to an 8-6 come-from-behind win over John Jay College on Saturday afternoon at the Dobbelaar Baseball Field.
Stevens, which earned its fourth win in five games, improves to 7-4.
John Jay (1-6) grabbed a 6-3 lead after scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore catcher Stephen Hillmann, who went 3-for-5, drove in two runs with a double to left-center field.
Stevens got one run back in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game with a two-run seventh. Frustaci, who led off the sixth with a double down the left-field line, came home later in the inning on senior shortstop Jeff Drobik’s groundout to shortstop. Sophomore catcher Ryan Birkenstock (Smithville, N.J./Abegami) tied the game at 6-6 with a two-run home run to right-center in the bottom of the seventh.
After sophomore left fielder Eric McCormick (Edison, N.J./J.P. Stevens) drew a leadoff walk to open the bottom of the 10th, Frustaci hit his second home run of the season to straightaway center field to win it for the Ducks.
Stevens received another strong outing from its bullpen. Freshman right-handers Dan Louis (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) and Scott Picerno (Bayonne, N.J./Hudson Catholic) allowed just one hit and no runs over the final 4.2 innings. Louis, who took over for starter Chris Burgess in the sixth, pitched 2.2 innings, struck out four and retired the final eight batters he faced. Picerno, who improved to 3-0, retired the final six batters he faced after yielding an infield single to open the ninth. Louis and Picerno combined for four hitless innings in a 5-4 win over Western Connecticut on Wednesday.
Sophomore shortstop Adam Sandt (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) went 4-for-5 with a double to lead Stevens at the plate. Junior center fielder Tim Meehan (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the third inning – his third of the season. Birkenstock and Frustaci also had two hits apiece as the Ducks pounded out 14 hits on the afternoon.
Hillmann led John Jay with three hits while junior shortstop Rocky Nicotina and junior left fielder Rich Santana had two hits each.
Stevens is back in action on Sunday, March 20, when it travels to Ewing, N.J., for a noon game against The College of New Jersey.
