HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 20, 2022)  – Junior Justin Doyle pitched 6 2-3 innings of one-hit relief as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team overcame an early four-run deficit to salvage a split of a MAC Freedom doubleheader with DeSales University Sunday at Dobbelaar Field.

Junior Michael Reyes homered and had three RBI as the Ducks defeated the Bulldogs 11-5 in game two to cap nearly seven hours of baseball. DeSales won the opener 5-4 in 12 innings in what was a scheduled seven-inning contest. 

"Nothing came easy today, that's for sure" commented head coach Kristaps Aldins. "Its been a long stretch of travel and baseball for us over the past several days. I am proud of our entire team for all of their efforts both on and off the field to come up with this series victory. It is especially rewarding because of the contributions we received from so many on our roster. Depth is a strength for us and I believe the benefits of it will continue to show itself as the season moves along."

Junior Ben Tobio homered, stole three bases and reached base seven times across the two games and graduate students Hunter Silvernail and Thomas Paulich joined senior Brett Mendez in driving in two for the Ducks, who moved to 12-6 on the year and to 2-1 in the MAC Freedom. The Ducks claimed two of the three games in the weekend series and have won seven of the last nine meetings between the teams. 

Billy Scanlon homered twice for the Bulldogs, who closed play 6-7 on the year and 1-2 in conference play. DeSales has dropped five of their last six contests. 

In his first season on the mound, Doyle (1-0) was sharp in earning his first collegiate victory. The only blemish against the right-hander was Scanlon's third-inning homer. Doyle walked one and struck out six, allowing the Ducks to rally after the Bulldogs touched starter Alex Smith for four runs in the first. 

The Ducks began their rally in the second. Senior Sutton Dole worked a one-out walk and came around to score on Reyes' blast to right. Junior Ryan Finegan singled through the left side and first-year Evan Pravato followed with a single through the right side. After a pop-up, Tobio reached on a hard-luck error by DeSales shortstop Patrick Kusters, who dropped Tobio's looping pop up to extend the inning. Finegan scored on the play and Paulich singled to left to score Pravato with the tying run, chasing DeSales starter Tom Berg.

The Ducks jumped in front in the third, scoring three times against reliever Ian Malone (0-1). Dole led off with a double to center and Reyes reached on a fielder's choice when Dole beat Kusters' throw to third. Dole would come around to score when Malone's pickoff attempt sailed into right field. Finegan and Pravato walked to force a pitching change and Mendez worked a walk against Justin Drake to force in a run. An RBI groundout by Paulich pushed the Ducks' lead to 7-5.

The bottom of the Ducks' lineup sparked the offense again in the fourth as the Ducks scored four times to break the game open. Combined, spots six through nine finished 6 for 12 with 10 runs scored and three RBI. 

The six-run cushion was more than enough for Doyle, who allowed just a seventh-inning walk after Scanlon's homer.

Although the teams combined for nine runs, pitching was once again front and center in the opener. DeSales right-hander Will Manley (2-0) and sophomore Jacob Buurman scattered just six hits over a combined 12 innings of work in the longest game for the Ducks since a 4-3 victory in 13 innings over then No. 22 St. John Fisher on Apr. 29, 2017.

Scanlon's fifth-inning homer off junior Ryan Shea gave DeSales a 4-3 lead in the fifth, but the Ducks forced extra innings when Finegan scampered home on a wild pitch. 

DeSales took the lead in the 12th when Gavin Zavorski worked a bases-loaded walk to force Scanlon home. Buurman appeared to escape a jam when he picked off Liam Kile at second base before a hit batter and another walk loaded the bases for Zavorski.

In the longest outing of his career, Buurman     struck out four over 6 2-3 innings before running out of gas in the 12th. Shea matched a career high with eight strikeouts over five innings, but didn't factor into the decision.

The Ducks nearly rallied in their half of the 12h. Tobio singled to lead off the inning and then promptly stole second. The fleet-footed catcher is third in the MAC Freedom with 12 thefts. After a flyout, pinch-hitter Eli Somers moved Tobio to third with a groundout, but Manley induced a sharp groundout by Paulich to wrap up the contest. Tobio's single was the lone hit Manley allowed over 5 1-3 innings. 

Up Next: Baseball hosts Rutgers-Newark at Dobbelaar Field on Mar. 23. The teams will play in Newark's Weequahic Park one week later. The Ducks have won three of the last four meetings between the teams.

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