ROCHESTER, N.Y. (April 6, 2008) – Senior first baseman John Frustaci batted 2-for-6 with a pair of RBI and a run scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team dropped both games of the doubleheader against St. John Fisher College by one run (3-2, 5-4) on Sunday in Rochester, N.Y. The Ducks were held to four hits in the first game, then had a total of 11 men left on base in the second loss.
Trailing 0-3 in Game 1, Stevens (5-18, 0-8) posted its first run of the game in the top half of the fifth. Freshman outfielder Matt Glassman led the inning off with a walk. Then sophomore outfielder Anthony Andrews laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Glassman to second. The ensuing batter, sophomore infielder Eddie Daniele grounded out to short, which moved Glassman to third. A balk by senior pitcher Greg McKweon (Avon, N.Y.) plated Glassman as the inning ended and the Cardinals now held a 3-1 advantage.
In the top of the sixth freshman outfielder Matt Roman reached base on a walk then stole second. After freshman catcher Denis Ackermann grounded out to the left side, Roman now stood on third. He was driven in by Frustaci off a single to right field. Fisher's lead was now cut to a run as the Ducks entered the top of the seventh. Glassman led off with a single to right field. He was then thrown out at second as a wild pitch ricocheted off the catcher's shin guard and down the third base side into the hands of sophomore infielder Jason Nevada (Rochester, N.Y.). A pair of groundouts ended the inning and allowed the Cardinals to earn their third-straight victory.
Senior pitcher Scott Picerno (0-6) was tagged with the loss for his six innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on nine hits and struck out a pair of batters. Glassman went 1-for-1 with two walks and a run scored. Freshman third baseman Ken Meerendonk batted 1-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases.
For Fisher (12-3-1, 4-0), senior pitcher Greg McKeown (Avon, N.Y.) earned his third win of the season (3-0) as he threw for five and one-third innings and rendered two earned runs on two hits. Sophomore outfielder John Quartironi (Williamsville, N.Y.) went a perfect 3-for-3. Senior infielder Dave Roth (Rochester, N.Y.) batted 1-for-3 with a run scored in the victory.
In the top of the first of Game 2, sophomore outfielder Mark Rasulo led off with a single through the left side. Glassman put down a sacrifice bunt to move Rasulo into scoring position. Ackermann walked, and then a wild pitch moved both men over as the Ducks had runners on second and third with one out. Another wild pitch plated Rasulo as Ackermann now stood on third. Frustaci then grounded out to the left side, which drove in Ackermann for the second run of the inning. The Cardinals tied it at 2-all after they posted runs in the bottom halves of the first and second innings. It stayed that way till the bottom of the fifth as Roth, senior pitcher Chad King (Plainville, N.Y.) and junior outfielder Bob Toland (Caledonia, N.Y.) each recorded RBI to give Fisher a 5-2 lead.
However, in the top of the sixth the Ducks responded as senior catcher David Katusa started things off with a single to left field. Andrews retaliated with a single through the left side. Following a pitching change, Daniele singled to right field as the bases were now loaded for Roman. He walked to plate Katusa. Head Coach Dan Pepicelli (Fairport, N.Y.) then went back to his bullpen to call on Lutes to try and get the final two outs. Lutes did as Rasulo popped out to short and Glassman went down on strikes all with the bases juiced.
In the seventh inning Stevens had one last opportunity to make something happen. Ackermann led off and grounded out to short for the first out of the inning. Frustaci walked, then Meerendonk reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman. The ensuing batter, Katusa grounded out to the pitcher as the Ducks had men on second and third with two outs. The inning was kept alive as Andrews reached first on another error charged to the third baseman. Frustaci scored on the play. Junior catcher Dan Silva was called upon to pitch hit for sophomore infielder Shawn Dorman. Silva went down on strikes as the Ducks fell 5-4 and are now on a four-game losing streak.
Lutes saved both games on the day for Fisher and three over the weekend series.
Senior pitcher Chris Burgess picked up his fourth loss on the season (0-4) as he threw for six innings. He allowed five earned runs on 11 hits and posted four strikeouts. Rasulo went 1-for-4 with a run scored, while Frustaci batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Craig (Getzville, N.Y.) earned his first win of the season (1-0) for his five and one-third innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on five hits. Freshman outfielder Ross Langevin (Liverpool, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Quartironi batted 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Roth finished the day 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
nson University at 3 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J. Live Stats will be provided at /livestats/baseball/xlive.htm.
