HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 29, 2008) – Sophomore outfielder Anthony Andrews batted 2-for-4 with a run scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team dropped a pair of games to Ithaca College Saturday afternoon in Hoboken, N.J. The Ducks (4-12) opened up league action as they only posted six hits in two games against the Bombers (8-6). Stevens fell 12-1 in the first game then 4-1 in the second.
In Game 1, the Bombers scored with two outs in the top of the first after senior third baseman Shane Wolf (Freeville, N.Y.) reached base on a throwing error charged to freshman third baseman Ken Meerendonk to keep the inning alive. Senior outfielder Rob Raux (Frankfort, N.Y.) singled through the left side of the infield which plated Wolf to give Ithaca a 1-0 lead. The Bombers added a run in the top of the second off the bat of junior second baseman Dylan Perez (Peterborough, N.H.), who flied out to centerfield as junior catcher Drew Ash (Denville, N.J.) tagged up from third.
Ithaca added four runs in the third and six more in the top half of the fifth inning to blow the game open allowing the Bombers to take a significant lead. The Ducks' only response was in the bottom of the sixth as Andrews started the inning with a single up the middle. The ensuing batter sophomore infielder Shawn Dorman singled to the left side and was awarded second base on a throwing error by the first baseman. Andrews advanced to third on the play. Sophomore outfielder Mark Rasulo grounded out to the third baseman, however he drove in Andrews for the only run scored by Stevens.
Senior pitcher Nick Sottung (Pulaski, N.Y.) earned his third win of the season (3-0), for his six innings pitched having allowed just three hits and one run scored. He sat down six batters on strikes for the Ducks. Sophomore lefty Joe Finora (1-3) was tagged with the loss. Finora threw for four and two-third innings, as he gave up six earned runs on nine hits.
The Bombers were led by senior outfielder Eric Ferguson (East Greenbush, N.Y.), who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Freshman infielder David Ahonen (Farmington, N.Y.) and Perez both batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. Perez added three RBI in the victory.
In Game 2, the Ducks grabbed an early lead having recorded a run in the bottom of the first. Rasulo started the inning off with a single. Sophomore outfielder Brian Skocypec laid down a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Rasulo to take second cleanly. Following a walk by freshman catcher Denis Ackermann, senior first baseman John Frustaci singled to right field. The bases were now loaded for Meerendonk who flied out to deep leftfield. However, it brought in the first run of the game as Rasulo tagged from third.
In the top of the third, the Bombers tied the game at 1-all off the bat of Ferguson. On the play, Ferguson singled up the middle to plate Ahonen for Ithaca's first run of the game. The Bombers added a run in the top half of the fourth as Wolf led off with a double down the right field line. However, two quick outs by Ithaca had a man stranded on second as Ash stepped to the plate. He doubled to right center which allowed Ferguson to score easily from second.
The Bombers added two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-1 lead heading into the final seventh inning. The Ducks could not get an offense rolling as they were shutout over the course of the final six innings.
Freshman pitcher Dan Anunziatta (2-1) earned the loss for his six innings pitched. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits. Junior pitcher Pete MacDaniel (Gansevoort, N.Y.) earned his first win of the season (1-2) as he threw a seven inning complete game. MacDaniel allowed just one earned run on three hits and struck out 10 batters.
For the Ducks, Frustaci, Rasulo and sophomore infielder Eddie Daniele recorded a hit, which tallied the only three hits posted by Stevens. Ithaca was led by Wolf, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Raux batted 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
Stevens and Ithaca will battle it out again tomorrow in a doubleheader at the Dobbelaar Baseball Field in Hoboken, N.J. Action is slotted for a noon start. Live Stats will be provided at /livestats/baseball/xlive.htm.
