CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (April 14, 2024) – Graduate student Michael Reyes hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team beat DeSales 9-6 Sunday afternoon.

Junior Matt Villapiano (3-1) earned the win. He pitched in two innings and gave up just two hits. He also struck out two batters. Senior Jacob Buurman (3) earned his team-leading third save of the year. He struck out the side in the ninth inning. Sophomore William Sotiropoulos started the game, lasting three and two-thirds innings. He gave up three hits and two runs while striking out five batters.

With the win, Stevens earned a huge series win over DeSales, as they will now have the tiebreaker over the Bulldogs if it is needed down the stretch. Stevens is now 18-10 on the year. They also have a 10-5 record in conference play, which sits them third in the current standings. The Ducks are now 9-3 in away games this year.

The Ducks are 11-9 all-time against DeSales. The Bulldogs drop to 14-15 for the season, with a 8-7 record in MAC Freedom play.

The Rundown

• With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to go up 1-0.
• The Ducks responded with two runs in the top of the second. Graduate student Michael Reyes singled to start the inning, but was replaced at first by junior Zachary Boykin as Boykin grounded into a fielder's choice. With two outs, senior Frank Tonina reached on an error and advanced to second, while Boykin moved to third. First-year Chip Krese then singled to score Boykin and move Tonina to third. Sophomore Dylan Fishbough proceeded to reach base on an error as well, scoring Tonina as Stevens went up 2-1.
• After junior Eli Somers singled and senior Christian Kreiser walked to start the top of the third, Reyes blasted a ball to right center to give the Ducks a 5-1 lead.
• The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom half of the inning.
• To start the fourth, Krese singled and Fishbough walked to set the Ducks up with runners on second and first. Krese then advanced on a wild pitch, and then both runners stole a base which brought Krese home. After a sacrifice bunt by Tobio in the next at-bat, Somers hit an RBI-single as the Ducks went up 7-2.
• DeSales scored in the bottom of the fourth to make it a four run game. 
• Fishbough reached on another DeSales error to start the sixth. He then proceeded to steal second and advance to third after a flyout. Kreiser then brought the sophomore home with a double as the Ducks took a 8-3 lead.
• The home side scored three in the bottom half of the sixth to get within two.
• Stevens tacked on an insurance run in the ninth. Kreiser was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Later with Kreiser on second and two outs in the inning, first-year Tyler Wilke doubled to right center to bring Kreiser home.

Top Performers

• Somers and Krese each had two hits, an RBI, and scored a run.
• Kreiser scored two runs, had one hit, and had an RBI.
• Fishbough scored two runs.
• Wilke recorded a hit and an RBI.

For the Opponents

• Frank Parrotti (2-3) took the loss. He allowed seven runs on five hits.
• J.T. Anderosky recorded three hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
• Justin DeStaso had two hits, an RBI, and scored a run.
• Travis Kerr tallied two hits and scored once.

Around the MAC Freedom 

• FDU-Florham 4, Misericordia 7
• Arcadia 17, Delaware Valley 8
• Lebanon Valley 12, King's 5
• Arcadia 23, Delaware Valley 8

Up Next

• Baseball will host Mount Saint Vincent on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The Ducks are 2-0 all-time against the Dolphins. Links for live stats and video are available on stevensducks.com.