PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (March 11, 2023) – Senior Ben Tobio recorded three RBI on four hits across two games as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team lost twice to No. 11 Arcadia University by a score of 7-6 in a MAC Freedom doubleheader at South County Regional Park as part of the Snowbird Baseball Classic. The games were the first two conference games of the season for each team.

The Ducks (6-5; 0-2) led for all but one-and-a-half innings across the two games but failed to win either contest. Arcadia (5-3; 2-0) hit a walk-off two-run home run in game two to complete the two-game sweep.

In the opener, Tobio got things started with a leadoff double for Stevens. After two quick outs for Arcadia, junior Christian Kreiser homered to put the Ducks up 2-0. The long ball was Kreiser's team-leading third of the year. The Ducks tacked on two more runs in the third to increase their lead to four. Tobio again started the rally with his second hit of the game, singling to center field with one out. He would later steal second and advance to third on an error and then stole home after sophomore Victor Schilleci struck out. Senior Michael Reyes also scored in the inning as he doubled, stole third, and advanced home on a wild pitch, all with two outs in the inning.

Arcadia came back with two runs of their own in the bottom of their third, which cut the deficit to two. 

Stevens added another run in the top of the fourth. After a leadoff single by junior Frank Tonina, sophomore Colby Ching delivered an RBI double to right center to give the Ducks a 5-2 lead. The Ducks restored their four-run lead in the fifth, when Tobio cabbed his big day with a solo homer for his third hit of the game.

The Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth off of senior Justin Doyle (3-2), who allowed four of the first five Knights to reach. With the score tied at six, Matt Donchez doubled off reliever Anthony Pron to score Anthony Bruno with the go-ahead run. Doyle struck out three and allowed seven runs on eight hits in 4 1-3 innings. Nick Fossile (1-0) worked around a Kreiser double in the fifth to earn the victory despite only pitching a-third-of-an-inning. Hunter Curley started for the Knights, lasting four and two-thirds of an inning. He gave up five earned runs, eight hits, and struck out five. Hunter Sibley threw two hitless innings to earn his first save. 

In game two, Stevens was again able to take an early lead. The Ducks led 1-0 after the top half of the second thanks to sophomore Evan Provato and senior Chris Davis. Sophomore Evan Pravato worked a leadoff walk to kick off the second. The Ducks' shortstop stole second and came around to score on a single from senior Chris Davis. The Knights would answer in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from Bruno to tie things at one.

The third inning would be a big one for both teams as they combined for seven runs, with Stevens scoring four. Schilleci singled to start the inning. With two outs, Schilleci scampered home on a wild pitch. The Ducks got a bit of help from Arcadia, as Pravato and sophomore Eli Somers both scored on a fielding error by left fielder Trey Obarowski. Ching, who reached on the same error, scored on another RBI single from Davis to put the Ducks up 5-1.

Arcadia answered with a three-run homer by Justin Massielo off first-year Erik Sibbach which cut the Stevens lead to one. Sibbach lasted 2 2-3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He struck out two and walked one.

After three scoreless frames, the seventh provided more drama. The Ducks padded their lead in the top half of the inning as they scored one run. Davis reached with two outs after getting hit by a pitch. First-year Dylan Fishbough stepped up next and smacked a single to center which pushed Davis to third and the Ducks' infielder scored on center fielder Kevin Wheeler's errant throw.

Ryan Smolen hit a leadoff home run for Arcadia in the bottom of the seventh. Emilio Pallante then drew a walk and stole second for the Knights. Still with no outs, Anthony Bruno hit a two-run home run off junior Jacob Buurman (0-1) to seal the victory.

Nadell Booker (2-0) earned the victory in game two for Arcadia. He pitched three innings, allowed an unearned run and struck out four. Carson Denham allowed five runs, two earned, in 2 2-3 but did not factor in the decision. 

Up Next: Baseball takes the field again tomorrow on Sunday, Mar. 12, when the Ducks finish their series against conference foe Arcadia. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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