HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 12, 2008) – Sophomore Thomas Butler's (Hicksville, N.Y.) RBI single down the left-field line scored junior Kevin Reynolds (Wantagh, N.Y.) with the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning as SUNY Old Westbury rallied from a 3-0 deficit en route to a 5-3 victory over the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team on Wednesday afternoon at Dobbelaar Baseball Field in Hoboken, N.J. The win was the first of the season for the Panthers (1-8). The Ducks fell to 2-7 with the loss.
Stevens jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior John Frustaci lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored freshman Brian Skocypec. The Ducks added two more runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 3-0. After reaching base on an error by freshman Joe Mazzarese (Copiague, N.Y.), freshman Ken Meerendonk came around to score on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of freshman Denis Ackermann. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, sophomore Anthony Andrews beat out a soft grounder to third for an infield hit that plated Ackermann.
Old Westbury began its comeback with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. With two outs and no one on base, junior John Taglienti (Shirley, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch. After stealing second, he advanced to third on a single through the right side by junior David Collado (Copiague, N.Y.). Reynolds followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Taglienti with the Panthers' first run. Collado later scored on a throwing error by sophomore Joe Finora on a failed pickoff attempt.
In the top of the seventh, Old Westbury tied the score at 3-all when sophomore Ivan Tineo (New York, N.Y.) produced an RBI groundout. Freshman Steve Henriquez (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored on the play.
Reynolds led off the ninth with a double to left-center off junior Alex Sota, who took over in the eighth after Finora threw seven solid innings. Butler followed with his RBI single. With two outs and Butler at third, junior Matthew Gelormino (Ozone Park, N.Y.) singled up the middle to give the Panthers an insurance run.
Stevens threatened in the bottom half of the ninth. Frustaci led off with an infield single off the glove of junior Joshua Flett (Oswego, N.Y.). With one out and Frustaci at second, junior Dan Silva was hit by a pitch – putting the potential tying run on first. At that point, sophomore Robert Whitenack (North Massapequa, N.Y.) came out of the bullpen to take over for sophomore Dan Fordyce (Brentwood, N.Y.). Whitenack proceeded to strike out freshman Mike Caruso, who pinch hit for freshman Mike Pagliaro.
After Andrews drew a walk to load the bases, sophomore Eddie Daniele bounced out to second to end the game. Stevens stranded 15 runners overall.
Frustaci went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss. Skocypec and Meerendonk added two hits apiece. Finora pitched seven full innings. He allowed four hits and three runs but just one was earned. Finora struck out seven Panthers. Sota (0-1) took the loss. In two innings of work, he surrendered four hits and two runs (both earned).
Reynolds led Old Westbury with three hits. Butler added two hits, including a double. Fordyce picked up his first win of the season by allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out five batters over 3.1 innings. Whitenack recorded the final two outs for his first save.
Stevens will be back in action on Sunday when it kicks off a six-game trip in Port Charlotte, Fla., against top-ranked College of Wooster at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks will also play Millikin University (DH), Fitchburg State College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Loras College while in Florida.
