HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 21, 2020) – Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to grab a 3-2 victory over New Jersey City University Friday at Dobbelaar Field.

The Ducks got a career-high nine strikeouts on the hill from senior Michael Frissora as well as the game-tying home run by sophomore Ryan Finegan and game-winning RBI single from Tom James as they have now won three straight games for the first time since March of 2019.

NJCU, playing baseball in the month of February for the first time since 2013, got a stellar start out of freshman Justin Wiltsey who made his collegiate debut and allowed just two hits and one unearned run while fanning five over 5.0+ innings of work.

Stevens was able to get to the Gothic Knight bullpen, however, as they scored all three of their runs in the contest off reliever Ian Ambrose (0-1) who was saddled with the loss on the hill after tossing 2.2 innings and giving up three hits and two earned runs.

Frissora was fantastic on the mound as well, allowing just two hits and two unearned runs over 6.0 innings of work. The Ducks also got solid work out of the pen from Hunter Counton and Alex Smith (1-0) as they combined to allow just one hit over the last three innings of the game to seal the victory.

The Gothlic Knights started the scoring in the top half of the fourth when two runners reached with one away on an error and a walk. After another strikeout from Frissora, a failed pickoff attempt allowed NJCU was able to put to runners in scoring position with two away.

The next pitch of the at-bat, Stevens looked like they were out of the inning when Frissora got Jimmy Vizzoni to pop a ball up in the infield. The continued, however, as first basemen Gannon Kenney-McGowan was unable to come up with the ball and two runs came around to score.

The Ducks scratched their first run of the contest in the sixth after Brett Mendez and A.J. Falconite started the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with nobody out.

Tom James then grounded into a double play in the next at-bat to bring home Mendez and cut the deficit in half.

With one away in the bottom of the seventh, Finegan came through by lifting the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his second collegiate homer to tie the contest at two.

Pinch hitting to kick off the bottom half of the next inning, junior Nate Zuckerman was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Mendez delivered in a key situation once again as he moved Zuckerman to third with a perfect sacrifice bunt.

With two away and Zuckerman on third, James ripped a 2-2 pitch into center field to bring home the go-ahead run and put Stevens ahead.

Smith then slammed the door in the ninth as he struck out back-to-back hitters and induced a ground out to first basemen Shay Bartnick to end the game. Smith finished the game with four Ks and didn't allow a hit over 2.0 innings of work to pick up his sixth career win.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens struck out 16 NJCU hitters as a team, the most since April 27, 2019 when they also fanned 16.
• Falconite, James, Thomas Paulich, Finegan and Mendez all had one hit apiece to give the Ducks five as a team.
• Stevens stole four bags as a team with two coming from Finegan and one each by Paulich and pinch runner Chris Zickert.
• In his first two outings of 2020, Frissora has thrown 10.0 innings and allowed just three earned runs while striking out 13 hitters.
• Counton struck out the side in his only inning on the hill while allowing a single hit.
• Finegan finished the game 1 for 2 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk.

From the Dugout (Head Coach Kristaps Aldins)

• "We got three good performances from our pitchers, Friss, Hunter and Smitty, a big swing by Finney to tie the game in the seventh and a clutch two-out hit by Tom that ended up being the go-ahead and winning run."
• "Not to be overlooked is the at-bat by Nate Zuckerman, working a 3-0 count before getting hit by a pitch. Nate will do anything to get the team a victory. He's shown it time and time again."
• "Also, Brett Mendez had an excellent effort with a big hit and a key sacrifice bunt late in the game. Overall, another satisfying win and very excited to get back out there again tomorrow."

Next Up

• The Ducks return to action Saturday when they take on William Patterson University Saturday in Hoboken, New Jersey at 12:00 p.m.
• Stevens has won three of its last four contests against the Pioneers, but WPU took home a 10-3 win on Feb. 23, 2019 the last time the two teams faced off.
• Live stats and video will be available on StevensDucks.com.

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