Box Score HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 6, 2018)  – Junior Donny Gherardi capped a three-run, seventh-inning rally with a two-out, walk-off double as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team came-from-behind to stun visiting Houghton College 6-5 in an Empire 8 Conference game Friday evening at Dobbelaar Field.

Trailing 5-3 entering the final frame, freshman Thomas Paulich began the comeback with a leadoff double against Caleb Philips (2-2). After consecutive strikeouts, freshman pinch-hitter Gannon Kenney-McGowan delivered his first collegiate RBI with a run-scoring single to right, scoring Paulich from third, who advanced on a wild pitch. Sophomore John Hamill pinch-ran for Kenney-McGowan. Freshman Nathan Zuckerman walked, prompting a Houghton pitching change. Dependable right-hander Victor Cavalieri came on and promptly walked senior Tommy Baronner on seven pitches. The Stevens leadoff hitter rallied from being down 1-2 to earn the free pass to load the bases. Gherardi followed and drove the Houghton reliever's first pitch well over the head of David Wessells in center to score Hamill and Zuckerman with the tying and winning runs. The dugout emptied and celebrated with the junior outfielder who delivered Stevens' third walk-off win of the season. Phillips allowed three runs on three hits in two innings in his 12th appearance of the year.

"Our team showed quite a bit of resiliency this evening, battling from deficits on two different occasions to walk away with an exciting win," said head coach Kristaps Aldins. "We got huge performances from a lot of our roster tonight, which is what made the win especially satisfying."

Freshman Alex Smith (1-0) struck out the side in the top half of the inning to earn his first collegiate victory.

Houghton had taken the lead in the sixth, scoring three unearned runs off closer Drew Hanke. Whitney Cook reached on an a throwing error by Hanke to begin the rally. Wessells struck out. Catcher Ben Closson reached when senior Alex Detweiler mishandled Paulich's throw, moving Cook to third. Taylor Huntsman homered to left to give Houghton a 5-2 lead.

Each team scored early runs via bases loaded walks. Houghton starter Brandon Joslin walked seven in 4 2-3 innings, while junior Danny Poidomani issues an uncharacteristic three free passes in three innings. The left-hander also struck out three.

Freshman Charles Kwong also delivered a run-scoring double. Sophomore Michael Frissora struck out two and allowed a run in his longest outing of the season.

Up Next: Stevens and Houghton will complete the second game of tonight's doubleheader before concluding their three-game series. The Ducks were leading 5-2 after five innings before the game was suspended due to the Hoboken curfew rule. Kwong and junior Carlos Leon connected for back-to-back home runs in the second and Gherardi delivered a two-run triple to provide the offense. Sophomore Chandler Brierley struck out 10 in four innings of work.

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