HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 5, 2008) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team fell to No. 7 Eastern Connecticut State University by a 9-1 decision on Wednesday in Hoboken, N.J. Stellar pitching from the Warriors held the Ducks to only two hits on the day. Stevens falls to 2-5 on the season as Eastern Connecticut improves to 1-1 on the year.

After three scoreless innings, the Warriors posted a run in the top of the fourth off the bat of freshman outfielder Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), who laced a double to right-center as freshman infielder Andrew Dewing (Swampscott, Mass.) scored from second. Dewing got on base as he singled to the left side and then reached second on a groundout to the right side. The inning ended when senior infielder Trey Bongiovanni (Meriden, Conn.) fouled out to senior first baseman John Frustaci.

The Warriors scored a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth off the bats of sophomore infielder Melvin Castillo (Danbury, Conn.) and Dewing. In the seventh, they added to their 3-0 lead as freshman outfielder Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) and junior infielder Tristan Hobbes (Utica, N.J.) each drove in a run.

The Ducks responded in the bottom of the seventh as the inning started with freshman infielder Ken Meerendonk getting hit with a pitch. Frustaci singled up the middle and freshman catcher Denis Ackermann walked to load the bases. Junior catcher Dan Silva grounded out to short, but drove in Meerendonk from third. The ensuing batter, freshman infielder Mike Pagliaro struck out. Freshman infielder Matt Glassman was called upon to pitch hit. With men in scoring position the Ducks could not capitalize as Glassman when down on strikes. Eastern Connecticut put the game out of reach as it recorded four runs in the top of the ninth.

Galblair was awarded with the win, having thrown for six innings with one hit, while turning aside eight batters on strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Joe Finora was tagged with his second loss of the season. He threw for six innings allowing just two earned runs on eight hits.

Stevens will return to action on Saturday when it travels to Baltimore, Md. for a doubleheader against No. 10 Johns Hopkins University. Game 1 is scheduled for a noon start.