HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 24, 2008) – Sophomore outfielder Mark Rasulo went 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored to help the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team earn its first victory (8-6) of the season against John Jay College on Sunday in Hoboken, N.J. Freshman infielder Ken Meerendonk also had a big day with two hits, a pair of RBI and one run scored.
With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the first, Meerendonk reached first base on a single. Senior infielder John Frustaci singled down the right field line as Meerendonk was able to advance to third. After a stolen base by Frustaci, freshman catcher Dennis Ackermann got a single that drove in Meerendonk and moved Frustaci to third. Another single from sophomore outfielder Anthony Andrews loaded the bases for freshman infielder Matt Glassman. Glassman drove the ball to center as Ackerman and Frustaci scored to give the Ducks an early 3-0 lead. The inning was kept alive as freshman infielder Mike Pagliaro reached base on a fielding error charged to junior pitcher Michael Colletta (Staten Island, N.Y.). On the play, Andrews scored as Glassman moved to third. Pagliaro would steal second, but sophomore infielder Eddie Daniele grounded out to stop the bleeding for the Bloodhounds.
John Jay responded in the top of the second after a two out homer from junior infielder Johan Abad (Corna, N.Y.) cutting the deficit to three. However, in the bottom of the fourth Stevens blew the game open as Daniele reached on a throwing error from Abad. Rasulo hit a ground-rule double to left center as Daniele ended up on third after being awarded two bases. The ensuing batter, senior catcher David Katusa walked to load the bases as Meerendonk singled through the left side of the infield driving in Daniele and Rasulo. On the play, Katusa ended up at third as Meerendonk advanced to second on the throw home. Frustaci recorded an RBI as he grounded out to short having driven in Katusa. The inning ended as Andrews grounded out to the pitcher. John Jay tried to produce a late rally but came up short as they scored five runs in the final four innings.
The Ducks received solid performances from freshman catcher Denis Ackermann and Glassman. Ackermann went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Glassman went 1-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
The Bloodhounds were led by junior outfielder John Massoni (Staten Island, N.Y.), who went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore infielders Chris Nastasi (Bayville, N.Y.) and Xavier Perez (Bronx, N.Y.) both had solid outings for John Jay. Nastasi had two hits on five at-bats and scored one run, while Perez went 2-for-4.
With the win the Ducks improve to 1-2 on the season as John Jay falls to 0-1. Senior pitcher Chris Burgess had a stellar performance having struck out nine batters allowing just three hits and one earned run through four innings pitched. Freshman pitcher Kyle Hanas earned the win after giving up two earned runs and four hits through two innings pitched. Colletta was tagged with the loss having allowed four earned runs on eight hits through three and two-thirds innings pitched.
Stevens will have a week to prepare for its doubleheader against Skidmore College next Sunday in Hoboken, N.J. Game 1 is slotted for a 12 p.m. start.
