SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Mar. 15, 2022) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team jumped out to a six-run lead in the opening game, but dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Our Lady of the Lake University (NAIA) Tuesday in non-conference action at Missions Baseball Academy.. With the losses the Ducks drop to 10-5 on the season, while the Saints move to 11-15.
 
"We came out here to win a pair of baseball games and build on our excellent team chemistry," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "We did not accomplish the first part of that equation, but I do think we took steps in the second area throughout this trip. I was pleased that we were able to utilize our roster and get some experience for our younger student-athletes. Next we need to get home safe and get prepared for our first conference series of the year against DeSales."
 
Senior Brett Mendez stuffed the box score in the opening game, going 2 for 3 with a run, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.
 
Junior Mark DeCicco, who received a no-decision in his first start of the season, was sharp from the opening pitch, posting four scoreless frames before being chased from the game in the fifth after giving up three runs. Sophomore Jacob Buurman (0-1) absorbed the loss, allowing a run on two hits in the ninth.
 
Adrian Gonzalez (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Saints, pitching a scoreless ninth.
 
Stevens got off to a quick start as the first five batters of the game all reached base. Mendez led the game off with a walk, which was followed by a bunt hit from junior Ben Tobio. An overthrow allowed both Mendez and Tobio to advance an extra base and a balk from starter Ram Maldonado plated the first run of the game . Tobio would scamper home on a wild pitch and the early fireworks continued when graduate student Thomas Paulich walked and classmate Hunter Silvernail doubled to left.
 
After a pitching change, senior Ryan Wall singled to left. A pickoff accounted for the first out of the inning, but the Ducks offense kept churning as senior Ryan Finegan walked, junior Michael Reyes recorded an RBI single to left, and sophomore Johnny Albrecht walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Mendez came back up to the plate for his second at-bat of the inning and delivered a two-run single to plate the final runs of the frame.
 
The Saints offense made a big move in the bottom of the fifth plating four runs to pull within 6-4. Then in the sixth, they added a pair of runs on a pair of doubles and completed their comeback when Noah Rodriguez drove Buurman's 2-2 pitch into left to score Robert Arredando, who had tripled. Rodriguez, who came on as a pinch-hitter finished with three RBI and Arredando finished with two hits.
 
In game two, the Ducks again jumped in front early, plating two runs in the first. Mendez singled to left and moved to second on a passed ball. Senior Sutton Dole followed with a walk. After a passed ball and a groundout, Silvernail continued his hot hitting with a two-run double to right. Stevens had plans for more, loading the bases with one out, but a popup to second and strike out swinging ended the rally.
 
The Saints responded in a big way in the bottom half of the frame, plating seven runs to jump out to a 7-2 lead.
 
The Ducks clawed back with three of their own in the top of the second, once again, thanks to Silvernail. Mendez sparked the rally with a one-out double. A flyout accounted for the second out of the inning, but Paulich picked up a two-out RBI with a long double to left. This set the stage for Silvernail who sent a shot over the left field fence to make it a 7-5 game.
 
Our Lady of the Lake kept its offensive barrage going in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs to extend its lead to 9-5 and then made it 10-5 with a single run in the third.
 
A sacrifice fly from Finegan made it 10-6 in the top of the fourth and the Ducks trimmed the lead to just two in the fifth when Dole hit a mammoth two-run homer to dead center. But that is as close as Stevens would get as the Saints got the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth and then held that lead for the 12-8 victory.
 
Mendez, Paulich, and Silvernail led the offense for Stevens with Mendez going 2 for 4 with two runs scored, a double, and a hit by pitch. Paulich also was 2 for 4 with a run, an RBI, a double, and a stolen base. Meanwhile, Silvernail was the big star of game two with a 2 for 3 performance that included a run, a double, a home run, four RBI, a walk, and a hit by pitch.
 
Junior Michael Reyes (0-1) picked up the loss going just a third of an inning and giving up six runs. First-year Matt Villapiano fired a scoreless inning for the Ducks. Senior Mike Faria also was not scored upon going a third of an inning, making his first appearance of the year. First-year Joe Gonzalez also had a solid outing going an inning and a third of scoreless ball, yielding only one hit and picking up two punchouts.
 
Javier De Alejandro was the winning pitcher for the Saints in game two.
 
Up Next: Stevens will open up MAC Freedom play this Friday, Mar. 18, when they travel to Center Valley, Pa. to take on DeSales University. The Ducks lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 7-4 and ended DeSales season in 2021 when they won the best of three series in the MAC Freedom Championship semifinals. The deciding game on Mar. 20 was 13-8 decision in favor of the Ducks, played at Dobbelaar Field in Hoboken.
 
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