HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 28, 2009) – Junior outfielder Russ Grimes went 4-for-7 with a run batted in and a pair of runs scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team split its conference doubleheader against St. John Fisher College Saturday afternoon in Hoboken, N.J. Sophomore infielder Ken Meerendonk batted 3-for-7 with three RBI and three runs scored, including a three-run homer to dead centerfield. The blast came in Game 2 as Stevens held a slight, 4-3 lead. His homerun was followed-up by a solo shot from Grimes, his third of the season. Meerendonk also posted his fourth win of the season having gone all seven innings. Both teams will return to the diamond tomorrow to play in the second twin bill of the weekend, scheduled for a noon start. Stevens currently stands 9-8 overall with a 1-1 conference ledger, while the Cardinals are 8-5 on the year and 1-1 in Empire 8 play.
Game 1, 8-5 Fisher
Trailing 5-0 and heading into the both of the sixth, the Ducks got a late rally going, sparked by a single off the bat of Grimes. Sophomore catcher Denis Ackermann then doubled down the right-field line to move Grimes to third. With men in scoring position, freshman infielder T.J. Alcorn singled to left field to move the runners 90 feet and post the Ducks first run of the game. Following a pitching change by the Cardinals, junior shortstop Eddie Daniele doubled to score Ackermann from third. A single by senior first baseman Dan Silva singled up the middle to score the third run of the inning. With no outs and men on the corners, junior outfielder Anthony Andrews grounded into a double play as Daniele came in to score. A fly out ended the inning before the Ducks posted four runs to cut the deficit to one.
The Cardinals padded the lead to four in the top of the seventh as a pair of homers started things off for Fisher. Junior infielder Kevin Wing (Webster, N.Y.) knocked over his first of the season, followed by the first for sophomore outfielder Phil Pettinella (Batavia, N.Y.). Sophomore catcher Leo Fusilli ( Penfield, N.Y.) lifted a sacrifice fly to plate freshman infielder Steven Karnyski (Lancaster, N.Y.) for the final run of the inning.
The Ducks could only muster one more run in the bottom of the seventh after Alcorn singled to right center to score Meerendonk from second. Alcorn finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Junior lefty Joe Finora went six innings to allow five earned runs on nine hits. Finora sat down five batters on strikes.
Game 2, 9-3 Stevens
In Game 2, the Cardinals struck first in the top of the third. Rasulo knotted the contest at 1-all after he launched his fourth homer of the year. After Fisher added two more to the board in the fourth, Silva singled up the middle to drive in Ackerman and bring the Ducks within a run.
Stevens took the lead in the fifth to go up 4-3, however the Cardinals fought their way out of a bases loaded jam to render just a pair of runs. Sophomore second baseman Tom Phillips score on a passed ball, then an Ackermann single to right field brought Meerendonk home from third. It was the bottom of the sixth that helped to secure the win for Stevens. It was Meerendonk's three-run shot with two aboard that opened things up for the Ducks. Grimes followed with a solo shot to give the Ducks a five-run advantage. Ackermann swiped home on a passed ball by the catcher for the final run of the game.
Meerendonk allowed 10 hits and only three earned runs to earn his fourth win (4-1) of the season. He stuck out five batters and walked just a pair. Rasulo finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Grimes batted 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
