CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (April 27, 2023) – Junior Jack Irby recorded one hit and two RBI as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team was swept in a MAC Freedom doubleheader with DeSales 3-2 and 5-0 on Thursday evening at Weiland Park.

The Ducks are now 25-13 on the season and 14-9 in MAC play. The Ducks needed just one win to lock up the #3 seed but now will have to wait for tomorrow to try and clinch,

DeSales (21-17, 14-9) won both crucial games in the doubleheader. DeSales is now tied with Stevens in the MAC Freedom standings in third place. The winner of tomorrow's game will be the #3 seed while the loser will be the #4 seed and have to play in the play-in game early next week.

After neither team was able to score a run in the first inning, the Bulldogs struck for two in the second. Justin DeStaso had an RBI in the inning while Travis Kerr scored from stealing home.

The Ducks responded quickly with two runs of their own in the next half-inning to tie the game. Sophomore Evan Pravato walked to open the frame while senior Chris Davis followed with a single to advance Pravato. The two moved up one base in the following at-bat to put them both in scoring position. After two outs, Irby singled down the right field line to clear the bases and even things up at two a-piece.

The game remained tied 2-2 heading into the seventh. With no outs in the top of the seventh, the Ducks looked like they were going to get their breakthrough as they had runners on second and third with no outs. Things didn't go as planned, as the next three Ducks struck out swinging. The Bulldogs scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory in game one.

Sophomore Matt Villapiano (1-1) pitched just a third of an inning. He gave up one run on two hits. Senior Mark DeCicco started and pitched five innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and struck out five. Junior Jacob Buurman also pitched an inning and gave up a hit.

J.J. Paul (2-0) earned the win for DeSales. He pitched an inning and struck out all three batters he faced. 

Building off their momentum from game one, DeSales came out on fire in game two. They scored three runs in the first and two in the second to open up a quick 5-0 lead.

The Bulldogs held DeSales scoreless throughout the game as they only allowed five Duck hits. Stevens was unable to get multiple hits in an inning until the seventh as they attempted to rally. With two outs in the inning, sophomore Zachary Boykin hit a ground-rule double. Junior Jack Stafford then singled to advance Boykin to third. In the following at-bat, Pravato walked to load the bases. The rally would end there as Davis struck out.

First-year Erik Sibbach (6-4) pitched all just two innings as he earned the start for the Ducks. He gave up five runs on four hits. Sophomore Joe Gonzalez and junior Axel Johnson pitched in relief. Gonzalez pitched three innings and only gave up two hits. He also struck out three batters. Johnson pitched one inning and recorded a strikeout.

Jared Drake (3-5) pitched the whole game for DeSales. He allowed five hits and struck out six batters.

Up Next: The two teams finish their three-game series tomorrow in Hoboken with the #3 seed in the MAC Freedom Tournament on the line. The game is set for 3 p.m. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.