HOBOKEN, N.J. – Sophomore right fielder Joe Utschig singled home freshman center fielder Anthony Daniello with two out in the top of the tenth inning to lift the College of Mount Saint Vincent to a 4-3 win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Tuesday afternoon in the Skyline Conference baseball opener for both teams at the Dobbelaar Baseball Field.
Mount Saint Vincent improves to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in Skyline Conference play. Stevens, which dropped its second straight extra-inning game, falls to 7-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Four of the Ducks’ last five games have gone to extra innings.
Daniello reached on a fielders choice and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by freshman left fielder Eddie Park. Utschig followed with a sharp single up the middle and Daniello scored the go-ahead run ahead of the throw from Stevens center fielder Tim Meehan.
Mount Saint Vincent built a 3-1 lead with two runs in the top of the first inning and one in the third. Utschig, who went 2-for-3, scored a run in each inning.
Stevens pulled to within 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman designated hitter John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Paramus Catholic) reached on a one-out single and scored from second when a single by freshman catcher David Katusa (Franklin Township, N.J./Franklin Township) got by Daniello in center field.
The Ducks tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Senior second baseman Jeff Drobik (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley) reached on a leadoff single to deep shortstop. He stole second and scored the tying run on a two-out single to right field by sophomore shortstop Adam Sandt (Allentown, Pa./William Allen).
Stevens held a 10-6 advantage in hits, but also left 12 runners on base. The Ducks also stranded eight runners in scoring position.
Freshman right-hander Jon O’Leary (1-2), who took over after starter Tony Palandro gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth, picked up the win for Mount Saint Vincent. O’Leary gave up one run and three hits while striking out six. Freshman Scott Picerno (3-2) took the loss for Stevens as he gave up one run on two hits while striking out three in three innings.
Drobik went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases to lead Stevens. Katusa went 2-for-4. Freshman third baseman Nick Canzano went 2-for-4 for Mount Saint Vincent.
Stevens returns to action on Thursday, March 24, when it hosts Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 3 p.m. at the Dobbelaar Baseball Field.
