HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 29, 2009) – Sophomore infielder Mike Caruso roped three hits to drive in four runs as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team upended Vassar College, 15-8 on Wednesday night in Hoboken, N.J. The Ducks called upon five different arms to help secure the win as Stevens moves to 19-17 overall, while the Brewers fall to 5-26. Freshman pitcher John Martelle picked up his first collegiate win as he threw for two innings, gave up three hits and did not register an earned run. The Brewers committed six errors despite their 14 hits posted against the Ducks.
The Ducks held a two-run lead (7-5) through three and half innings. Stevens plated three runs in the second off a pair of singles and a double, as defensive errors by the Brewers brought in two more. After Vassar posted a run on a sacrifice fly in the top half of the second, the Brewers added two more in the third due to a pair of singles with runners on third. A two-run single by Caruso in the bottom of the frame, set the deficit at four runs. However, two unearned runs in the top of the fourth brought the contest to a two-run differential.
Stevens then went up by five as the Ducks notched three runs in the fifth. Caruso delivered an infield single to drive in junior short stop Eddie Daniele from third. Junior left fielder Anthony Andrews and senior first baseman Dan Silva both scored after Silva reached base on a walk, while Andrews was struck by a pitch.
After a scoreless sixth, the Ducks blew that game open as Stevens batted around to post a five-run seventh. Sophomore third baseman Ken Meerendonk started it off as he drove in Daniele from third. With the bases loaded for junior right fielder Russ Grimes, he drew a walk to plate Caruso. Sophomore catcher Denis Ackermann then walked as Silva picked up an infield single to score Meerendonk from third.
A late rally by the Brewers in their final at-bats closed on the 10-run margin. Vassar notched three runs off of a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Devon Luongo (Hillsborough Calif.), an infield single off the bat of freshman infielder Sal Costanzo (Cooper City, Fla.) followed by a double from sophomore infielder Joe Castilla (Weston, Fla.).
23 different players for the Ducks saw action in tonight's win. Daniele finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Andrews batted 2-for-3 with four runs scored and an RBI, as Silva went 3-for-4 with three Runs scored and one run batted in. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Hanas came in for the seventh and eighth and rendered just a pair of hits.
For Vassar, Castilla batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Costanzo finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior pitcher Tyler Bellstrom (Townshend, Vt.) got the nod and threw for three innings, allowed seven runs to score on nine hits to post his seventh loss of the year (2-7).
The Ducks will conclude regular-season play with a conference doubleheader against Ithaca College on Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y. Game 1 is slatted for a 1 p.m. start.
