Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ITHACA, N.Y. (April 7, 2013) – For the first time in the 2013 season, the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team fell to below .500 with 5-3 and 9-3 losses to Ithaca College in the second Empire 8 Conference doubleheader in Ithaca, N.Y. Stevens, now 11-12 overall, have been on the wrong side of the ledger in five consecutive games and eight of its last 10 contests.

Game One: Ithaca 5, Stevens 3

In the opener, Stevens got off to an early start with a run in its first at bat of the game. With two outs, junior Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) stroked a double and then came around to score on a base hit by senior Michael Donovan (Frisco, Texas).

Ithaca answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the first and then took the lead with another score in the third inning. Tim Locastro reached base by way of a walk from sophomore Gary Boardman (Staten Island, N.Y.) and then got to third after two successful steals. Colby Gee brought Locastro home on a single to knot the matchup at 1-1. In the third inning, Andrew Turner doubled and came around to score on a hit from Tim Henry.

Boardman went 5.1 innings in the no decision and scattered five hits with three runs (two earned). He also struck out three batters and walked two.

The Ducks regained the lead in the top of the sixth with another two-out rally. Sophomore Ryan Mannello (Staten Island, N.Y.) picked up a two-RBI double that brought Donovan and freshman Nicholas Sieber (Shrewsbury, Mass.) across home plate. Stevens could have done more damage in the inning, but two baserunners were retired on fielder's choices. Freshman Jayson Yano (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) walked and moved up to second on a passed ball only to be put out attempting to advance to third on a groundball from Sieber. Allen came up next and walked but was retired on the second fielder's choice to Donovan in the next plate appearance.

The Bombers would put three runs on the board in the bottom half of the sixth inning to claim the Game One victory. With one out, Corey Caswell singled which forced Boardman out of the game for senior Mark Poinsett (Ocean Gate, N.J.). Matt Connolly then reached on an infield single and both runners came home to score on a series of errors by the Stevens defense for a 4-3 advantage. Vinny Gneo belted a solo home run in the next at bat for an insurance run for the Bombers.

Poinsett suffered the loss in 2/3 of an inning on the mound with two hits and an earned run.

Game Two: Ithaca 9, Stevens 3

Stevens once again jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning, but just like Game One, Ithaca had an answer each time the Ducks scored.

In the first, Sieber singled with one out and scored on a two-run home run by Allen for his second round-tripper this season. The Bombers scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the first with two outs. Ithaca loaded the bases but a double play left runners on second and third for Caswell. Caswell then doubled to right field to tie the game at 2-2.

Stevens regained the lead in the second inning after freshman Jonathan Toro (Sanford, Fla.) doubled to lead off the frame and came home on an infield single by sophomore Marc Calleo (Bayville, N.Y.). Ithaca responded with a run in its next at bats and then took over the game in the third with two more runs.

The Bombers pounded out eight hits in the second and third innings to force senior Tyler Courter (Glenwood, N.J.) out of the contest. Courter gave up 11 hits in three innings with five earned runs in the loss. He was replaced by freshman Daniel McIntyre (Lakeway, Texas) who struggled in 2/3 of an inning with four hits and four earned runs.

In the fourth, Ithaca blew the game open with four runs on five hits. The Bombers (18-4) batted around in the stanza to cap off the four-game sweep and extend their winning streak to 14 games.

Stevens will try to right the ship with a single game against Drew University on April 10 at 3:30 p.m. and then take on Empire 8 newcomer Houghton College over the weekend for four contests.