HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 14-15, 2017)  – Junior Alex Detweiler drove in six runs games and sophomore Danny Poidomani struck out nine over seven shutout innings, but the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team dropped two of its three-game series to the Elmira Soaring Eagles in Hoboken this weekend. 

Senior Zeph Walters collected five hits and drove in four runs for the Ducks, who fell to 14-15-1 on the year and 6-5 in conference play. With seven conference games remaining, Stevens remains in the hunt for an Empire 8 Championship birth.

Jansen Crossley totaled five hits and drove in three runs and Dylan Bellinger hit a go-ahead home run for Elmira, who improved to 9-10 overall and 6-5 in conference play. It was the first victories for Elmira over Stevens since the program's inception three seasons ago. 

"Hats off to Elmira," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "They made a ton of plays and beat us thanks to an inspired effort. They are a very well-coached team."

Elmira 7 Stevens 1 (7 inn.)
In the series opener, Jansen Crossley snapped a 1-1 tie with double down the left field line, scoring Dennis Rudolph and Nate Hanner, as the Soaring Eagles went on to defeat the Ducks, 7-1.

Hanner worked a one-out walk off Zeph Walters (3-2). Rudolph doubled to center. Crossley followed with a drive down the line, scoring both runners. The Elmira second baseman was thrown out at third trying to advance.

Crossley's infield single opened the game's scoring as Elmira loaded the bases in the first inning. Tommy Fogarty led the game off with a single and moved to second on Conor Bawiec's sacrifice bunt. Dylan Bellinger walked. Hanner stuck out looking, but Walters was unable to get out of the inning as Rudolph dropped a single in front of Shaye Bartnick, who narrowly missed throwing Rudolph out at first. Crossley followed and hit a grounder to short, but beat Matthew Pasko's throw across the diamond.

Stevens answered when Walters' flyout to right scored Detweiler. It would be the only run for Stevens as Bawiec (3-1) allowed just five hits over the next 5 1-3 innings, striking out nine. The Ducks had a chance to break through against Bawiec in the third after three straight singles loaded the bases with just one out, but the Elmira right-hander struck out Walters and Patrick Rood to end the threat. 

Baweic and Bellinger added RBI singles in the fourth to break the game open. Walters finished the day allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. 

Ryan Larsen pitched two scoreless innings and William Korosec allowed two runs on one hit with two strikeouts in his first action on the mound in almost two years. 

Stevens 9 Elmira 0
In the nightcap, Danny Poidomani rebounded from his worst start of the season with his best, scattering a mere two hits over seven sterling innings as the Ducks rebounded with a 9-0 victory.

"After a tough loss in game one, we were able to bounce back in a big way thanks to Poidomani's outing," Aldins said. "He was in command all night."

Alex Detweiler went 4-for-5 with a home run and 5 RBI as the Ducks jumped on Joe Kidd (1-1) for five runs in the first two innings. Detweiler connected for a one-out single to right center. Shaye Bartnick walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Zeph Walters connected on a Kidd fastball, doubling into center to give Stevens a 2-0 lead. Detweiler's three-run homer in the second pushed the Stevens lead to five.

Given a five-run lead to work with, Poidomani cruised through the Elmira lineup. After Tommy Fogarty's leadoff single, the Rochelle Park, New Jersey resident only allowed Nate Hanner's fourth-inning single. The Empire 8 Conference leader in strikeouts, Poidomani fanned nine, including striking out the side in his final inning of work.

Detweiler capped his big day at the plate with a two-out, two-RBI single in the seventh off Joe Marigliano. Matthew Pasko began the rally with a one-out single. Catcher A.J. Falconite single but was forced at second on Michael Mule's fielder's choice, which advanced Pasko to third. The speedy outfielder promptly stole second in front of Detweiler who connected for a long single to right. The first baseman has set career highs in all offensive categories.

"Detweiler had a great approach all day and is really turning into a complete hitter," Aldins added. "He was a big part of our offensive attack in both games."

Ryan Larsen and Bridger Cohen each threw a scoreless to close out the game.

Elmira 7 Stevens 5
In the series finale, Dylan Bellinger's two-run home run turned propelled the Soaring Eagles to a 7-5, come-from-behind victory over the Ducks. 

Alex Detweiler continued his strong series with two hits and an RBI and Donny Gherardi went 2-for-4 for the Ducks. Jansen Crossley had a pair of hits and Justin Iannotto also homered for Elmira.

Elmira jumped out to a 2-0 against Quinn DiPasquale (2-2). Tommy Fogarty led the game off with a walk and advanced to third on Bellinger's double. After a wild pitch led to the first run of the game, Nate Hanner doubled down the left field line to score Bellinger. 

Stevens loaded the bases in their half of the first, but were only able to push one run across against Nick Sampogna. Detweiler started the rally with a one-out single. Shaye Bartnick singled through the left side and Zeph Walters walked to load the bases. Patrick Rood squared up a Sampogna offering, but the Stevens second baseman lined the ball right to Dennis Rudolph in center to score Detweiler. Gherardi grounded out to end the inning.

The Ducks added a run in the second, when A.J. Falconite scored on a wild pitch. Stevens took the lead in the third, scoring two off Smapogna. Detweiler singled to lead off the inning. Bartnick walked and Walters tied the game. After Rood grounded out for the second out, Donny Gherardi pushed a single through the left side to put Stevens in front.

After Justin Iannotto's second-inning home run, DiPasquale settled into a groove, retiring seven of the next eight batters, before running into trouble in the fifth. Iannotto walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on Fogarty's single. DiPasquale uncorked a wild pitch to advance the runners and the Elmira catcher scored when Falconite's throw sailed into the outfield. After Conor Bawiec struck out, Bellinger launched a home run to right center to reclaim as 6-5 lead for the Soaring Eagles.

Andy Reed (3-3) earned the win for Elmira, allowing just two hits over six innings, retiring the last 11 batters he faced.

"We swung the bats well today and our offensive lineup is really starting to take shape heading into the stretch run," Aldins reflected. "Harrison Kaye really sparked up with his energy. He had a good stretch of games and really is starting to figure things out offensively for himself."

Up Next: Stevens travels to Dallas, Pennsylvania for a non-conference matchup with No. 27 Misericordia University. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. "We are excited to head into this big week after taking some time to rest on this holiday weekend."

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