EWING, N.J. (April 27, 2010) – A resilient Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team rallied from a six-run deficit to pull within one in the top of the sixth before eventually falling to host The College of New Jersey, 8-5, at Ackerman Park in Ewing, N.J. The Ducks, playing their first game in nearly two weeks thanks to several rainouts, fell to 12-18 overall on the year, while the Lions improved to 15-18 on the season with the win.
TCNJ opened up scoring in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on three hits. Freshman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, N.J.) started things off with a lead-off single to left before swiping second. Kelly later advanced to third on an Ed Zakrzewski (Three Bridges, N.J.) ground-out before scoring on a Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, N.J.) base-hit to left center. With one out and runners on first and second after a walk to James Ruzich (Verona, N.J.), freshman Nick Cifelli (Ewing, N.J.) laced a double to right center plating two more Lions' runs.
TCNJ tacked on a run in the second on a Zegarski two-out single back up the middle, scoring Kelly before adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on second and nobody out, Kelly doubled to right center, plating junior Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, N.J.) – who reached on a hit-by-pitch before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Kelly extended the TCNJ advantage to 6-0, scoring on a fielder's choice after advancing to third on a Zegarski infield single.
Hoping to climb back into the game, the Ducks responded with three runs in the top half of the fifth. Back-to-back singles by seniors Anthony Andrews and Eddie Daniele put two aboard with one-out before sophomore second baseman Tom Phillips drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Mark Rasulo then ripped a three RBI double down the leftfield line to put Stevens on the board.
The Ducks continued to rally in the sixth, plating two more runs to cut the deficit to 6-5. With no out and runners on second and third, sophomore T.J. Alcorn came in on wild pitch before Andrews scored Stevens' fifth run with a single to center, bringing home sophomore Corey Linden, who reached on a double to left center.
Undaunted, TCNJ added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh with sophomore Tom Wile (Maplewood, N.J.) leading things off with a single to right before a Michael Murphy (Staten Island, N.Y.) homer to left center quickly upped the margin back up to three. From there, Lions' pitching secured the victory, allowing no hits and just one Stevens' baserunner over the final two innings.
Andrews led the Ducks offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Rasulo finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Daniele, Phillips, and Linden each recorded a hit and scored for Stevens.
Zegarski finished 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while Kelly went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Cifelli and Murphy combined for a pair of hits and four RBI on the day.
Stevens' starter Joe Finora lasted just four innings, surrendering eight hits and six runs in the loss, while sophomore counterpart Dominic Capuano (Ewing, N.J.) scattered seven hits in six innings, allowing five runs. Lions' relievers William Wohland (Succasunna, N.J.) and Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, N.J.) did not allow a hit in three shutout innings to help preserve the TCNJ lead.
