Meerendonk, Rasulo Power Baseball's Win Over John Jay

3/31/2010 6:15:00 PM

HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 31, 2010) – Junior Ken Meerendonk went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team picked up a decisive 12-4 victory over visiting John Jay College at the Dobbelaar Baseball Field in Hoboken, N.J. The Ducks are now 8-10 heading into this weekend's Empire 8 showdown with No. 23 Ithaca College, while the Bloodhounds fell to 3-16 on the season.

All nine Stevens' starters recorded a hit, with senior Mark Rasulo finishing 3-for-4 on the day with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Matt Rodgers had a 2-for-4 day with a run scored and two RBI, while senior Eddie Daniele and freshman Tyler Courter combined for a pair of hits and five RBI.

John Jay senior centerfielder Edwin Hernandez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the way for Bloodhounds, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Steven Kendrick (Bronx, N.Y.) and freshman shortstop Dennis Lopez (Selden, N.Y.) each went 1-for-3.

Stevens starter Chris Tucci allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out four before giving way to freshman Michael Donovan who tossed three shutout innings, allowing just one hit en route to his first collegiate win.

The Ducks opened up scoring in the bottom of the first, tallying four runs on five hits. Sophomore second baseman Tom Phillips got things started with a lead-off single to center. Rasulo then blasted a two-run shot to right center to put Stevens on the board.

With junior Russ Grimes on first and one out, junior catcher Denis Ackermann ripped an RBI single to right center, plating another Ducks run before Meerendonk found a hole in the left side putting runners on the corners. Ackermann later scored on a Rodgers ground ball to first, capping off Stevens' four-run first.

Kendrick tallied the Bloodhounds' first run on a two-out homer to right center in the top of the second before John Jay tacked on another run in the top half of the third.

After four scoreless innings from Bloodhound relievers Alex Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) and Danny LoPresti (Brooklyn, N.Y.), the Ducks offense once again broke through with a three-run sixth. Meerendonk led things off with a single through the left side before stealing second. Rodgers then bunted the Stevens' third baseman over, before LoPresti hit Courter to put runners on the corners with one out. Daniele took advantage of the situation, smashing a three-run shot over the left centerfield fence to put Stevens up, 7-2.

Following a scoreless seventh, John Jay plated a pair of runs on a Hernandez roundtripper to left center, making it 7-4, but five Stevens' runs in the bottom half of the stanza put the game out of reach. Phillips again proved to be the catalyst for the Stevens' rally, lacing a lead-off, ground-rule double, down the right field line. Rasulo then singled to left before stealing second.

With two-out and runners on second and third, Kendrick hit Ackermann to load the bases before a Meerendonk single to center scored two runs. Rodgers then doubled to center, plating senior Anthony Andrews, who pinch-ran for Ackermann, before a Courter double – after a John Jay pitching change – made it 12-4 Ducks.

Stevens opens up conference play against No. 23 Ithaca College on April 2-3.
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