HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 1, 2006) – Eastern Connecticut State University scored a pair of runs on three straight hits with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as the 25th-ranked Warriors pulled out a 6-4 victory over the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team on Wednesday afternoon at Dobbelaar Baseball Field in Hoboken, N.J. With the loss, the Ducks fell to 1-2 on the season while Eastern Connecticut ran its record to 1-0.
Following a leadoff walk to senior outfielder/first baseman Greg Sullivan (Needham, Mass.), sophomore shortstop Zack Thomas (East Haddam, Conn.) attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Sullivan was forced out at second base on the play thanks to a strong throw by Ducks’ sophomore catcher David Katusa (Somerset, N.J.). With two outs in the inning, junior centerfielder Randy Re (Danbury, Conn.) fell behind in the count 1-2. On the next pitch, Re laid down a perfectly executed bunt along the third-base line.
Senior first baseman Chris DeSantis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a two-strike single to right-center to score Sullivan with the lead run. With runners at the corners, senior infielder/outfielder Marc Garofalo (South Kingstown, R.I.) picked up an RBI with an infield single to third.
In the bottom of the ninth, Stevens mounted a rally against freshman pitcher Mike Tingley (Rockville, Conn.). Senior pitcher/outfielder Gerard Moreno (Bogota, N.J.) reached on a fielder’s choice as freshman infielder Michael DeCoro (Palisades Park, N.J.) was forced at second base for the second out of the inning. Senior outfielder Tim Meehan (Hawthorne, N.J.) followed with a walk. With runners at second and third, Tingley was able to get junior pitcher/infielder Adam Sandt (Allentown, Pa.) to pop out to short to end the game.
Meehan had a big day at the plate once again as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored. In the fifth inning, Stevens pushed across three runs as Meehan led off with a double – the 100th base hit of his career – down the left-field line. Meehan later scored on a single to right field by sophomore infielder John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J.). Sandt also scored on the play following a throwing error by sophomore right fielder Jason LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.). Junior pitcher/infielder Ryan Birkenstock (Smithville, N.J.) added a sacrifice fly to center later in the inning.
Sandt was 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Ducks. Frustaci finished with one hit, an RBI and run scored. Birkenstock was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Moreno started for the Ducks and pitched six solid innings – allowing five hits and one run while striking out three batters. Junior pitcher/outfielder Jim Waterman (South Harrison Township, N.J.) was saddled with the loss after allowing both runs in the ninth inning. Waterman (0-1) pitched two innings and gave up three hits, two runs and two walks.
Tingley (1-0) picked up the win for the Warriors’ in their season-opener as he went 4.1 innings while allowing only one hit and a walk. Tingly struck out two batters.
Offensively, Eastern Connecticut was led by Re, who was 3-for-5 with a run scored. DeSantis had a pair of hits and two RBI. Thomas finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
Stevens will be back in action on Sunday when it hosts Skidmore College in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
