LOWVILLE, N.Y. (April 8, 2017)  – Sophomore Matthew Pasko totaled three hits and drove in two runs as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team split an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader with the State University of New York at Canton Saturday. The games were played at Lowville High School due to unplayable conditions on Canton's campus.

Senior Michael Mule' tripled and scored three times for the Ducks, who moved to 12-12-1 on the year and 5-3 in conference play. Canton closed play at 3-14 and 1-4 in the Empire 8.

"These were two very tight games from beginning to end," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "We had the lead late in both, and although we were able to hold on for a win in game one, we let things slip away in the second."

Stevens 5 Canton 4 (7 inn.)
In the opener, Matt Branco's fifth-inning sacrifice fly scored what proved to be the winning run as the Ducks held on for a 5-4 victory.

Alex Detweiler had two hits and an RBI for the Ducks who opened a 5-1 lead before navigating a difficult seventh inning for the one-run victory. 

Zeph Walters (3-1) allowed one run on five hits over six efficient innings to earn the victory. Seth Douglas (1-4) homered in the fifth for the only blemish on Walters' pitching line.

Stevens jumped in front in the third on Shaye Bartnick's two-out RBI single and increased the lead to three when Matthew Pasko plated Eric Zickert and Carlos Leon in the fourth.

In the fifth, Mule' led off with a triple to center. Detweiler plated the Stevens centerfielder with a single and moved to third on Shaye Bartnick's single through the right side. After Walters struck out, Bartnick stole second for his first career stolen base. Branco then lofted a Douglas offering to right, scoring Detweiler with the fifth Stevens run.

Canton scored three times in the seventh to draw within 5-4, but Charlie Ruegger induced a flyout from Christian Nazario-Cruz with the winning run at second for his fifth save.

Canton 5 Stevens 4
In game two, Canton rallied for four runs in the eighth to earn a 5-4 victory.

Michael Mule' collected three hits and Zeph Walters, Eric Zickert and Carlos Leon each drove in a run for Stevens. 

Sophomore Danny Poidomani (3-3) pitched a complete game for Stevens, allowing five runs and striking out seven. The right-hander walked one and has walked two or less in seven starts this season.

"Our two starting pitchers, Walters and Poidomani, both pitched excellent games," Aldins said. 

After the teams exchanged early runs, Stevens reclaimed a lead when Zickert executed a bunt, scoring first baseman P.J. Wiegartner from third. The Ducks added a pair of runs in the eighth on Walters' single and bases-loaded walk by Leon. 

Poidomani was cruising until the eighth, retiring five of six before entering the final frame. Edward Malinoski left off with a single and moved to second on Travis Schindler's single. After Seth Douglas popped up, Wilson Matos doubled to center for the inning's first run. Poidomani buckled down to strike out Brandon Welch, but Trevor Keleher tied the game with a long double to left. Ben Miller followed with a double to left, scoring Keleher with the winning run. It was Miller's only hit of the game.

The Ducks threatened to tie the game in the ninth, but Anthony Tur (1-0) induced back-to-back lineouts with the tying run at second to end the game.

Up Next: Stevens returns to action Sunday for a non-conference matchup with nationally-ranked Alvernia at 3 p.m.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics