HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 19, 2019) – Senior
Danny Poidomani became the career strikeout leader as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball fell to Catholic University of America in both games of a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Dobbelaar Field.
Poidomani (1-3) collected 10 strikeouts in game one's 5-2 loss, improving his career total to 241 to pass Mike Belz's previous record of 233. Jon Mierzwa (6-0) kept his perfect record on the mound as he struck out 10 batters and allowed just two runs.
The Cardinals began the game with Connor Sullivan getting hit by a pitch to reach first base. Ryan Tracy then reached after a throwing error by the second baseman before Bailey Lewis grounded out to senior
Matthew Pasko to advance both runners. Sullivan scored the first run of the day following a wild pitch by Poidomani.
In the bottom of the second, senior
Matt Branco registered his second career home run to tie up the game.
Sean Dempsey opened up the third inning with a bunt single before advancing on a sac-bunt by Sullivan. Tracy then brought in the runner with his RBI single to left center.
After three-straight strikeouts from Poidomani in the top of the fourth, freshman
Ryan Finegan registered his first collegiate homer to tie the game at two.
Nolan Lundholm sent an 0-1 offering over the centerfield fence following a scoreless fifth inning for a three-run homer to give Catholic a lead they would not relinquish.
Prior to the start of game two, seniors
Donny Gherardi,
Carlos Leon,
Ryan Larsen, Poidomani, Branco, and Pasko were honored for their contributions to the Stevens' baseball program over their four year on Castle Point.
Larsen (4-4) recorded six strikeouts in his 4.2 innings on the mound in game two. Ross Dean (3-2) pitched 5.1 innings and struck out five batters to earn the win for the Cardinals.
Sullivan scored the first run of the game once again as Lewis bounced out to third base. Junior
A.J. Falconite answered in the bottom of the first with his two-run homer to right center to give Stevens the lead.
Kendric Musser recorded another RBI groundout for Catholic in the next stanza to tie the game before graduate student
Tommy Baronner put Stevens right back in the lead his an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Falconite followed with a sac-fly to extend the lead to two.
Michael Doody and Sullivan each collected an RBI in the third and fourth inning, respectively, before Catholic recorded three runs in the top of the sixth to take a three-run lead.
In the top of the sixth, Tracy singled on a bunt prior to making his way to third on a balk and a wild pitch. Lundholm then worked a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error by Branco that allowed Tracy to score the Cardinal's final run of the game.
After Branco singled and Leon walked in the bottom of the inning, Pasko hit a bunt single to load the bases. Jack Ropelewski came on to pitch for Dean and walked his first batter to give the Ducks their sixth run of the game. Sophomore
Thomas Paulich cut the lead to one with his two-run single to center field to cap off the inning.
Neither team scored in the final three innings, allowing the Cardinals to complete the doubleheader sweep.
"We want to express a sincere thank you to our parents, especially to our senior parents, for the support we had today on senior day," commented head coach
Kristaps Aldins. "And also congratulate our soon-to-be graduates on what has been a great four years."
Up Next: Baseball travels to Farmingdale on Wednesday, April 24 for a non-conference matchup starting at 3:30 P.M.
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