HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 16, 2020) – Junior Gannon Kenney-McGowan finished the day 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and five RBIs to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team to a doubleheader split against Rutgers-Newark Sunday at Dobbelaar Field.

The Ducks dropped a 7-4 extra inning affair in the first contest but bounced back for a 9-4 victory in game number two as they start the 2020 campaign.

Stevens also received some stellar pitching performances on the day led by Roy Iversen and Alex Smith who combined to toss 5.0 shutout innings to close out game two with the win.

How it Happened (GM 1)

• In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Ducks allowed just four total hits but walked a total of 10 batters and hit a pair to allow the Scarlet Raiders to take an early lead and win the contest late.
• Rutgers-Newark did not have a hit off opening day starter Chandler Brierley with two outs in the third inning. After Brierley hit DH Adam Thompson with two outs, Thompson stole second base to give the Scarlet Raiders a runner in scoring position.
• Connor Clare responded in-kind, lacing the first hit of the game for Rutgers-Newark into center field to take an early 1-0 lead.
• RU-N added three more in the top half of the next inning thanks to a two-RBI single by Matthew Rypkema and a wild pitch scored another to give the Scarlet Raiders a 4-0 lead.
• The Ducks fought back, however, scoring a pair of runs with two outs after Kenney-McGowan came off the bench and deposited a ball in front of the left fielder to score a pair and cut the deficit in half.
• Stevens wasn't done as they rallied again in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff double from A.J. Falconite, a walk from Thomas Paulich and a wild pitch, the Ducks cut the deficit to one on the wild pitch.
• After a pitching change, sophomore Sutton Dole welcomed the new arm with a line drive single off his foot to bring home Paulich.
• Now with runners on first and third and nobody out with a chance to take the lead, Stevens could not break the tie. Catcher Nathan Zuckerman attempted to bring home Dole on a squeeze play, but did not get it far enough away from the Scarlet Raider catcher as he was able to grab the ball and spin to put the tag down before Dole touched home plate.
• The next two batters then flew out and the game remained tied.
• A game originally scheduled for seven innings, the contest went into extra innings as the stalemate continued through seven.
• In the eighth, Rutgers-Newark broke through with a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and an error to make the score 5-4. Stevens was unable to minimize the damage from there as Andre Tirso stepped up and hammered a ball over the right field wall to give the Scarlet Raiders a three-run cushion.
• The Ducks were unable to muster a baserunner in the bottom half as they fell 7-4.

Top Performers (GM 1)

• Kenney-McGowan only had one plate appearance, but it was a big one as he drove in a pair of runs.
• Falconite closed game one by going 2 for 4 with a run scored while James also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Brierley did not factor into the decision after he tossed 3.2 innings, giving up four earned runs and fanning five while allowing just two hits.
• Bristow was saddled with the tough loss after throwing 4.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven.

How it Happened (GM 2)

• Stevens jumped on top from the start in the second game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first.
• The first two runs of the game came around to score on a two-RBI double into right centerfield off the bat of James.
• With James at second and two away, Kenney-McGowan ensured a big inning for the Ducks as he lifted the first pitch he saw over the center field wall to give the Ducks a 4-0 lead.
• Rutgers-Newark responded with a pair of runs of their own in the top half of the second thanks to an RBI double and a Ducks fielding error.
• Leading 4-2, Stevens re-extended the lead to four after a Ryan Finegan RBI single up the middle brought home Chris Silos and a Paulich RBI single into right center brought around Bret Mendez.
• In the top half of the fourth, the Scarlet Raiders again cut the deficit to two thanks to a two-out, two RBI single from Matthew Rypkema.
• Rutgers-Newark threatened to continue to chip away in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with nobody out.
• Junior Roy Iversen did not let the moment overtake him, however, as he came on in relief of Michael Frissora and got a fielder's choice groundout and a 5-2-3 double play to get out of the jam.
• Still up 6-4 in the fifth, the Ducks added three runs thanks to an RBI based loaded hit-by-pitch by Kenney-McGowan and a big two-out, two-RBI single into center field to bring home James and Dole.
• Neither team scored the rest of the way as the bullpens kept the offenses at bay as left the final score at 9-4.

Top Performers (GM 2)

• Kenney-McGowan was solid once again with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored
• Paulich was 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
• Silos and Mendez both also finished with multi-hit games at the bottom of the lineup as the duo combined to go 4 for 7 at the plate.
• Starter Michael Firssora did not factor into the official decision but closed the game with 4.0 innings pitched, allowing just three earned runs and striking out four.
• Iversen picked up the win in relief after tossing 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings while striking out a pair. He sat down all six batters he faced.
• Junior Alex Smith came on in relief in the seventh and threw the last three innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just one hit and punched out three to earn his first save of the season.

From the Dugout (Head Coach Kristaps Aldins)

• "We learned a lot about our squad today and there is quite a bit to be excited about. Splits are always going to leave a bit of an unsatisfied feeling, but after a tough loss in game one, I am proud of our team coming away with a victory in the nightcap."

Next Up

• The Ducks return to Dobbelaar Field Wednesday, February 19 when they take on Drew University at 3:00 p.m.
• Stevens has won nine of the last 12 meetings between the two schools, but Drew was able to win 11-6 last time out on Feb. 21, 2018 in Hoboken.
• Live stats and video will be available on StevensDucks.com.

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