EWING, N.J. (April 26, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team fell 5-4 in 12 innings to The College of New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon at George Ackerman Park in Ewing, N.J. Stevens led as late as the seventh but TCNJ tied the score in its half of the inning, before the Lions won it with an unearned run in the 12th. The Ducks were led by two hits by senior third baseman Mike Pagliaro and junior right fielder Matt Glassman.
Stevens took an early 2-0 edge with single runs in the first and second innings. In the first, junior second baseman Tom Phillips led off with a single and after stealing second, he eventually scored on an RBI single from Empire 8 Player of the Week Russ Grimes. Junior designated hitter TJ Alcorn started the second inning off with a single, before crossing the plate on a two-out, run-scoring double off the bat of Pagliaro.
The Lions cut the Stevens (11-18 overall, 3-5 Empire 8) lead to one run in the bottom of the third as sophomore Scott Kelly (West Windsor, N.J.) led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a Duck error.
TCNJ took the lead in the sixth inning with two runs thanks to an error and a two-run homer from sophomore Andrew Pierce (Bridgewater, N.J.), but the Ducks came right back with a pair in the top of the seventh. Phillips was hit by a pitch to start the inning, stole second, and senior first baseman Kenneth Meerendonk walked. Senior catcher Denis Ackermann got down a solid sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with one out, and after a strikeout, Phillips scored on a wild pitch before a two-out RBI single from Glassman gave Stevens the lead, 4-3.
The Lions answered in their half of the seventh off sophomore reliever Kevin Mathews. Mathews replaced sophomore Tyler Courter who gave the Ducks six strong innings, allowing three runs (one earned), five hits, a walk, and six strikeouts. Kelly was able to deliver a one out single, advance on a groundout, and score on single from junior Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, N.J.).
The scoreboard did not change for the next four and half innings but the Lions were able to take advantage of a Stevens error to start the 12th. After a sacrifice bunt, junior Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, N.J.) doubled home senior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, N.J.) with the winning run.
Senior Kyle Hanas took the loss for the Ducks, giving up an unearned run in 2.1 innings of work. Three Stevens pitchers combined to allow 12 hits in 11.1 innings. There was only one walk and just two runs were earned because of five Duck errors.
Phillips had a hit and two runs scored, while Meerendonk, Alcorn, Grimes, and Linden each had one hit. Pagliaro finished with two hits and an RBI, and Glassman did the same. TCNJ (21-8) had 12 hits in total with Kelly, Ruzich, Galeotafiore, and Pierce all notching multiple knocks on the afternoon.
Stevens will return to action with a four-game Empire 8 series at Dobbelaar Field on Saturday and Sunday. The opening doubleheader on Saturday will start at 4 p.m.
