UTICA, N.Y. (May 3, 2008) – Freshman third baseman Ken Meerendonk finished the day 4-for-7 with a pair of runs scored and five RBI as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team earned two conference wins over Utica College on Saturday in Utica, N.Y. Stevens totaled 19 hits on the day as they took down the Pioneers by the scores of 8-4 and 4-1. The Ducks posted five runs in their last at-bats of Game One as they improve to 10-26 overall on the year and 3-11 in Empire 8 play.
Trailing 3-4 heading into the top of the seventh, senior catcher David Katusa plated sophomore outfielder Mark Rasulo off a single to right field to tie the game 4-all as the Ducks posted five runs in the come-from-behind victory. Senior first baseman John Frustaci drove in the go-ahead run as Katusa came in to score off a single to left field.
Utica grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a two-run base hit by freshman infielder Chris Hine (Brick, N.J.). Junior infielder Kelvin Cabrera (Hoboken, N.J.) plated junior outfielder Adam Keller (Lee Center, N.Y.) on an infield single. The Pioneers added a run in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of senior pitcher Daniel Kreisler (Elmira, N.Y.) for an RBI single.
The Ducks registered a total of three runs in the top halves of the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Rasulo lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate sophomore outfielder Anthony Andrews. Meerendonk then drove in a pair of runs off his double to right centerfield in the sixth.
Sophomore lefty Joe Finora pitched a seven-inning complete-game as he earned the win (2-6) having rendered two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Meerendonk batted 2-for-3 with a runs scored and a pair of RBI. Frustaci went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore shortstop Eddie Daniele also batted 2-for-4 in the victory
For Utica, senior pitcher Kevin McCormick (New Hartford, N.Y.) threw for six innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Sophomore pitcher Mike Gibbons (Waterville, N.Y.) blew the save and earned the loss (0-1) as he came in for the seventh and allowed five runs, one of which was earned, on three hits. Cabrera batted 3-for-3 with an RBI in the defeat.
In Game Two, Stevens struck first as it posted three runs in the top of the third to take an early advantage. Meerendonk doubled to plate Rasulo and Daniele. Freshman catcher Denis Ackerman drove in the third run of the inning as Meerendonk came in to score off a double to the gap in right field. The Pioneers answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Keller crossed the plate on a sacrifice bunt by Hine. The Ducks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a Meerendonk single to drive in Rasulo.
Freshman pitcher Dan Anunziatta picked up his third win of the season (3-4) for his seven innings of work. He gave up just an earned run on nine hits with four strikeouts. Meerendonk and Frustaci both went 2-for-4 in the game as Meerendonk added three RBI and a run scored. Rasulo batted 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
Junior lefty Mike Sadallah (New Hartford, N.Y.) was tagged with the loss (0-4) for his seven innings pitched. He allowed three earned runs on nine hits. Cabrera went 2-for-3 in the game, while Keller was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Stevens will return to action on Sunday in its final two games of the 2008 season as another doubleheader is scheduled against Utica with Game One slated for a noon start.
