POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (April 23, 2008) – With the bases loaded in the top half of the seventh, sophomore outfielder Mark Rasulo roped a triple to right centerfield as three came in to score to help the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team earn its seventh win of the season (7-23) over Vassar College on Wednesday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Ducks posted 13 runs on 13 hits as costly errors by the Brewers (7-16) allowed Stevens to capitalize and earn the victory.
Vassar sent five different pitchers to the mound, all of which walked away with no earned runs charged against them. The Brewers defense was responsible for five errors on the day. Vassar jumped ahead 2-0 after three innings off RBI's from freshman catcher Mike Plude (Shelton, Conn.). In the bottom of the first he singled to right field to bring in freshman shortstop Joe Castilla (Weston, Fla.). In the bottom of the third, Plude tripled to right field to plate senior outfielder Mike Murn (Huntington, N.Y.).
The Ducks knotted the game at 2-all in the top of the fourth when freshman outfielder Matt Glassman singled to right field to plate senior catcher David Katusa for the first run recorded by Stevens. Junior catcher Dan Silva then drove in Glassman off a single through the infield.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Vassar responded with a pair of runs to regain their two-run lead. Sophomore centerfielder Adam Murphy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) crossed the plate on a wild pitch having recorded the Brewers third run of the game. The ensuing batter, sophomore second baseman Ari Glantz (Cambridge, Mass.) plated freshman third baseman David Ringold (Seattle, Wash.) off a ground out to the left side.
Stevens broke the game open in the top of the fifth when it tacked on seven runs. Katusa doubled to left field as Rasulo came into score. He would then score off a throwing error by Ringold as the game was tied at 4-4. Sophomore leftfielder Anthony Andrews plated freshman catcher Denis Ackermann off a single to leftfield. Andrews and Glassman were driven in by Silva when he singled to right field as the Ducks took their first lead of the game (6-4). Junior second baseman Matt Girnys recorded his third RBI of the season when sophomore shortstop Shawn Dorman and Silva came in to score off a single to centerfield.
The Brewers posted three runs in the bottom of the fifth to close on the three-run deficit (10-7). The Ducks came out firing in the top half of the sixth when Andrews crossed the plate as the bases were loaded and Girnys was hit by a pitch. The following batter, Rasulo then recorded his three-run triple to give Stevens a commanding lead (13-7). Vassar didn't back down as it tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth off the bats of Murphy and Ringold. Murphy drove in a pair of runs with a triple to right centerfield. Ringold then plated Murphy with a single to leftfield.
Freshman Kyle Hanas came in for the eighth and ninth innings and shutdown the Brewers offense having allowed just a pair of hits as he struck out four to earn his first save of the season.
Senior pitcher Armando Suarez earned the win for his four and two-third innings pitched. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits and struck out five batters. Freshman Jeff Hart had a solid outing for his two and one-third innings of work. He rendered three earned on three hits. Leaders for the Ducks were Girnys and Silva. Both men batted 2-for-4 as each totaled three RBI and a run scored. Andrews went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
For Vassar, Murphy led with his triple as he went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Glantz batted 2-for-6 with three RBI as Plude finished the day having gone 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI. Ringold went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Senior pitcher Nick Bell (Arlington, Va.) was tagged with the loss (1-1) for his four and two-third innings pitched. He gave up six hits and struck out three batters.
Stevens will return to Empire 8 play on Saturday when it hosts the Tigers of Rochester Institute of Technology in a doubleheader starting at noon. Live Stats will be provided at /livestats/baseball/xlive.htm.
