BEVERLY, Mass. (March 4, 2018)  – Senior Quinn DiPasquale scattered just four hits over eight innings for his first career complete game, but Brendan McDonald's sixth inning home run proved to be the difference as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team fell to Endicott, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference matchup at North Field. It was the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Freshman Nathan Zuckerman reached base three times and junior Matthew Pasko had an RBI triple for Stevens, who fell to 1-4 on the year. 

Matt Bald went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Endicott, who won its season opener. The Gulls have won three straight season-opening games dating back to the 2016 season. Beginning with the matchup with William Paterson University on February 24, Stevens has been the season-opening opponent for three straight teams.

Endicott's Alexander Mandrus (1-0) pitched 3 1-3 shutout innings to earn the victory.

"Another tough one for us," commented head coach Kristaps Aldins. "Quinn pitched a fantastic game and we outhit our opposition, but we lost in the run-total on the scoreboard. These types of close losses have been the theme thus far in the young season. We have an exciting vision for what this team is capable of, but we need to continue to learn from our mistakes and keep growing as a unit."

After a 10-strikeout performance against Drew in his first start of the season, DiPasquale (0-1) was again up to the task in his second. The right-hander didn't allow a hit until the third inning and struck out two. The Chelmsford, Massachusetts native retired seven of Endicott's final eight batters to finish the complete game.

The Ducks scored both of their runs in the third. Freshman Thomas Paulich walked. Pasko placed Will Ferreira's 2-2 offering into a perfect spot in center field for his first career triple, easily scoring the Stevens third baseman. Senior Tommy Baronner plated the second run of the inning with an RBI groundout.

Endicott scored twice in its half of the third to even the score. Jacob Thibault walked to lead off the inning. Dan Cacciola popped out. Bald reached an infield single and both runners advanced on a throwing error. Michael DeDonato singled to second to score Thibault. The Endicott second baseman was promptly picked off first base, however, during the rundown to tag out DeDonato, Bald scampered home to tie the game at two. McDonald lined out to right to end the inning. Both Endicott runs in the frame were unearned.

DiPasquale retired the next eight batters before McDonald snapped the 2-2 tie, driving a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center field.

The Ducks loaded the bases in the eighth, but were unable to push another run across. Zuckerman worked a one-out walk off Mandrus. Senior Alex Detweiler singled to center, forcing an Endicott pitching change. Will Bryant came on and promptly gave up sophomore Patrick Rood' single through the right side to load the bases. Bryant then induced an inning-ending double play from junior Carlos Leon to end a threat. Bryant hit freshman Ambrose Consol to lead off the ninth, but retired the next three batters in order to pick up the save.

The game was played in a today two hours and 17 minutes.

Up Next: The Ducks welcome SUNY-Old Westbury to Dobbelaar Baseball Field on Wednesday, March 7 for a non-conference game. The contest is a makeup on the game originally scheduled for February 18, but was postponed because of an overnight snowstorm.

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