David Katusa drove in the lone run for Stevens with a single in the second inning. |
FISHKILL, N.Y. (May 6, 2006) – After opening the 2006 campaign with a 14-2 mark, Stevens Institute of Technology closed out the season on a down note as the Ducks were eliminated from the Skyline Conference Baseball Championship following a 3-1 loss to top-seeded Centenary College on Saturday at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y. With the loss, Stevens finished the season with a 27-12 mark.
The Ducks opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Junior infielder Andrew Tesoriero (East Brunswick, N.J.) reached base as he was hit by a pitch with two outs. Junior pitcher/outfielder Eric McCormick (Edison, N.J.) followed with a bunt base hit. Sophomore catcher David Katusa (Somerset, N.J.) produced a clutch two-out single up the middle as Tesoriero scored to give Stevens a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, junior pitcher/outfielder Jim Waterman (South Harrison Township, N.J.) came on in relief for senior pitcher/outfielder Gerard Moreno (Bogota, N.J.). Freshman infielder Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, Pa.) led off the frame with a single to left. Junior outfielder William Geltzeiler (Rumson, N.J.) reached on a sacrifice bunt as Waterman mishandled the ball down the first-base line. At this point, sophomore pitcher Chris Burgess (Palisades Park, N.J.) relieved Waterman.
Junior infielder Brandon Perrine (Annandale, N.J.) moved both runners along with a sacrifice bunt. Senior catcher Matt Hoffman (Lafayette, N.J.) followed with a bloop single to left to tie the game as Loder scored and Geltzeiler advanced to third. Centenary took the lead when senior infielder Todd Sigafoos (Phillipsburg, N.J.) lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Cyclones picked up a key insurance run when junior infielder Patrick Cassidy (Annandale, N.J.) reached first on a wild pitch after swinging at a third strike. On the play, Katusa committed a throwing error when he attempted to gun down Cassidy at first. Hoffman came all the way around from second to score on the wild pitch and error.
Stevens was led by Moreno, who went 2-for-4 in the game. He also allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over seven innings on the mound. Katusa had one hit and an RBI for the Ducks.
Sigafoos collected two hits and one RBI for Centenary. The Cyclones also received a solid outing from freshman pitcher Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, N.J.), who surrendered just six hits and one run in a complete-game victory. Koncen, who was the Skyline Conference Rookie and Pitcher of the Year, improved to 8-1 with the victory.
Despite finishing the year on a three-game losing streak, Stevens set a new school record for wins in a season with its 27 victories.
