Scott Picerno now needs one win to become the winningest pitcher in the history of Stevens baseball. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 25, 2007) – After traveling to Kings Point, N.Y. for a scheduled doubleheader against the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday, the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team had to head back to Hoboken, N.J. to take on the Mariners in a twin-bill after the umpires ruled that Lower Roosevelt Field was unplayable. Despite the sudden venue switch, Stevens pounded out a combined 20 hits and scored 22 runs en route to a sweep of Sunday’s action.
In the first game, junior Scott Picerno (Bayonne, N.J.) tied the all-time record for career wins at Stevens as he pitched the Ducks to a 13-4 victory. In two-plus seasons with the Ducks, Picerno has amassed 17 career victories. He is now tied with Eugene Tkac and Mike Belz in the record books at Stevens. Tkac, who is in the Stevens Hall of Fame, won 17 games from 1950-52. Belz accomplished the feat from 1990-93.
In Sunday’s game against the Mariners, Picerno allowed 11 hits and three runs while striking out seven batters over seven innings. Sophomore Joe Gunshor (Ridgefield, Conn.) helped Picerno’s cause by going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Russ Grimes (South Brunswick, N.J.) had two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored in the win. Junior David Katusa (Franklin Township, N.J.) was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Senior Justin Backus (Hummelstown, Pa.) was tagged with the loss as he allowed five hits and seven runs in 3.2 innings of work. Freshmen Travis Christensen (hometown not provided) and Jeff Schwind (hometown not provided) had two hits apiece for the Mariners.
Leading 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning, Stevens scored seven runs – all with two outs – to blow the game open. Katusa had a two-run single, and Grimes collected two RBIs with a double. Gunshor added a run-scoring double, and senior Ryan Birkenstock (Smithville, N.J.) had an RBI single as well.
In the fifth inning, the Ducks scored four times on a bases-loaded single by Gunshor and back-to-back walks by Birkenstock and junior John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) with the bases full.
During the second game, Stevens took advantage of some porous defense by the Mariners as USMMA committed 12 errors that ultimately contributed to a 9-3 win by the Ducks. In the fourth inning alone, Merchant Marine made six errors as a team. During that frame, Stevens scored five runs – four of which came with two outs – to turn a 3-1 game into an 8-1 advantage.
Senior Andrew Tesoriero (Dunedin, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with one RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in the victory. Tesoriero also recorded his 100th career hit with a single in the fourth inning. Grimes and Gunshor added two hits apiece for the Ducks. Gunshor stole two bases and scored a pair of runs as well.
Sophomore Bill Jennings (Southampton, N.J.) improved to 2-1 on the season as he allowed nine hits and three runs over five innings. Jennings struck out seven Mariners in the game.
Sophomore Alex Smith (Pleasant Valley, Conn.) fell to 2-1 overall as he surrendered eight runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings of work. Junior Brad Rackoce (hometown not provided) and freshman Mike Bybee (hometown not provided) collected two hits apiece for USMMA.
Stevens will be back in action on Wednesday as the Ducks host Vassar College at 4 p.m.
