Adam Sandt's two-run home run was just the beginning of a nine-run rally in the eighth inning on Friday. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 14, 2006) – Junior pitcher/infielder Adam Sandt (Allentown, Pa.) and senior outfielder Tim Meehan (Hawthorne, N.J.) launched long home runs during a nine-run rally in the eighth inning as Stevens Institute of Technology overcame a two-run deficit late in the game en route to a 12-5 victory over FDU-Florham on Friday at Dobbelaar Baseball Field in Hoboken, N.J. The win snapped a brief two-game losing streak for the Ducks as they improved to 21-6 on the year.
Leading 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning, the Devils (13-12) threatened to add to their lead as senior catcher/outfielder Joe Franzese (Staten Island, N.Y.) stroked a ground-rule double to left-center off sophomore pitcher Scott Picerno (Bayonne, N.J.). With runners at second and third and no outs, Picerno got sophomore first baseman Dan Bellino (Jackson, N.J.) to hit a ground ball to Sandt at shortstop. Sandt’s throw home was in plenty of time as sophomore catcher David Katusa (Somerset, N.J.) applied the tag to senior shortstop Jim DaSilva (Morristown, N.J.).
Following a foul out to junior pitcher/infielder Ryan Birkenstock (Smithville, N.J.) at third, Picerno escaped the inning unscathed as he induced freshman outfielder Charles Kull (Livingston, N.J.) to ground into a fielder’s choice where Bellino was forced out at second.
Junior pitcher Greg Warger (Ringoes, N.J.) came on in relief to start the bottom of the eighth and proceeded to hit Meehan with his first pitch. Sandt, who had been held hitless in two straight games following a 30-game hit streak, launched a game-tying home run well beyond the fence in left-center. With one out, sophomore infielder John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) singled up the middle. Junior infielder Andrew Tesoriero (East Brunswick, N.J.) followed with a double to right-center as pinch runner Will Epperson (Southington, Conn.) advanced to third.
With the infield drawn in, junior pitcher/outfielder Eric McCormick (Edison, N.J.) hit a hard smash to the right of DaSilva. After making a nice stop on the ball, DaSilva’s throw sailed over Bellino’s head at first for an error as Epperson raced home with what proved to be the winning run. Tesoriero advanced to third on the throw.
After McCormick stole second, Katusa ripped a two-run single to center as Warger’s day came to an end after recording only one out. Freshman catcher Dan Silva (Boonton Township, N.J.) lined a single to left to put runners at the corners. Senior pitcher/outfielder Gerard Moreno (Bogota, N.J.) doubled to center as Katusa scored to push the lead to 9-5.
With runners at second and third and still only one out, Meehan launched a towering three-run home run to right-center to blow the game wide open. Sandt followed with his second hit of the inning – a double – as the Ducks’ offense finally came alive.
The top three batters in the lineup for Stevens went 8-for-14 with three doubles, two home runs, two stolen bases, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Moreno was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Meehan had two hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Sandt had a single, double, home run, stolen base, three RBI and two runs scored. Frustaci finished with a pair of hits and an RBI. Picerno improved to 4-0 on the year as he allowed three hits and one run over two innings.
Stevens raced out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Moreno led off with an infield single and Meehan hit a ground-rule double to left-center. Sandt followed with an RBI single to center for the first run of the game. The Ducks tacked on two more runs on back-to-back RBI groundouts by Birkenstock and Frustaci.
In the top of the fourth, FDU put together a two-out rally as sophomore first baseman/pitcher Tom Cifrodella (Old Bridge, N.J.) smoked a double to right field. Following back-to-back walks, sophomore pitcher Armando Suarez (Long Valley, N.J.) surrendered a grand slam to freshman catcher Jimmy Sheppard (Gladstone, N.J.).
The Devils extended their lead to 5-3 in the seventh as junior outfielder Lucas Cittone (Highland Park, N.J.) launched a two-out, pinch-hit home run to left off Picerno.
FDU, which had won four games in row heading into the game against Stevens, was led by Sheppard, who was 1-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Cittone went 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Warger (2-3) was saddled with the loss as he allowed six runs and four hits. Junior pitcher Christopher Jones (Hamilton, N.J.) had a solid outing as he gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings.
Stevens will be in action on Monday when the Ducks travel to Danbury, Conn., to take on Western Connecticut State University at 7:30 p.m.
