EWING, N.Y. (April 22, 2008) – Sophomore outfielder Anthony Andrews batted 2-for-3 with a run scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team dropped its fifth-straight game with today's loss to No. 7 The College of New Jersey (26-6) in Ewing, N.J. by an 8-3 decision. Junior pitcher Alex Sota gave up eight runs in the first two innings then pitched a five-inning shutout as the Ducks (6-23) totaled six hits on the evening.
In the bottom of the first the Lions drove in seven runs off the bats of junior third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, N.J.) and seniors Rich Gawlak (Plainsboro, N.J.), Matt Barrett (Pennington, N.J.) and Bill Kropp (Pottstown, Pa.). Mazzaccaro lifted a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield as senior centerfielder Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, N.J.) came in to score. Gawlak doubled down the right field line to plate junior shortstop Jeff Toth (Parlin, N.J.). Barrett recorded his fifth homer of the year, which was a grand slam over the leftfield wall. TCNJ added a run in the bottom of the second as Gawlak drove in junior second baseman Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, N.J.) off a groundout to the right side of the infield.
The Ducks posted a run in the top of the third as freshman catcher Denis Ackerman plated senior catcher David Katusa off a single to centerfield. Stevens added a run in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings. Freshman third baseman Ken Meerendonk drove in senior first baseman John Frustaci when he doubled to right field with two outs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth, the Ducks were only able to bring in a run when freshman outfielder Matt Roman drew a walk to plate Andrews.
Sota was tagged with the loss (2-2) for his seven innings pitched. He gave up eight earned runs on nine hits and struck out four batters. Despite the first two-inning setback, he had a solid performance through the seventh inning. Sophomore pitcher Pedro Pimienta came in for the eighth and only allowed a walk as he forced a pair of fly outs and a groundout to third. Meerendonk, Frustaci, Ackermann and Katusa all produced a hit during their performances, while Ackermann and Meerendonk posted RBI in the loss.
For the Lions, Barrett and Kropp both went 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored. Barrett recorded four RBI off his homer, while Kropp drove in a run. Junior pitcher Dan Anderson (Lincroft, N.J.) earned the win (4-0) for his six innings of work. He allowed three hits and an earned run, while having registered seven strikeouts.
The Ducks return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to take on Vassar College in a non-conference match up. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
