By Anthony DiCocco
It was a busy Friday night in college baseball with eight local teams in action across nine games. Here’s how everyone managed.
Division I:
Monmouth 8, Stony Brook 4
Despite fighting back against one of the Coastal Athletic Association’s top teams, the Seawolves were unable to complete the comeback.
After Nick Dromboski scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, the Hawks stormed back for four runs in the third. With one out and one out, Colin Richter took Hunter Colagrande deep to right field to make it 2-1 Monmouth.
Immediately after, Colagrande issued a walk before Aidyn Coffey committed a throwing error to put two on. Colagrande got a big second out on a fielder’s choice, but threw a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position, allowing Simmi Whitehill to drive them both in with a two-run single.
During the following inning, Chris Carson pulled a two-run shot over the right field fence to bring Stony Brook within a run. Two batters later, Johnny Pilla walked and advanced all the way to third base on an errand pickoff throw, setting the stage for Mike Cervoni to tie the game at 4-4 with an infield single.
Nonetheless, the Hawks scored a run in each of the final four innings. Whitehill led off the fifth with a solo bomb, and with Aidan Colagrande on the mound in the sixth, Brendan Buecker picked up a run batted in (RBI) by singling through the left side.
Will Fahey drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt an inning later before Wyatt Hunt blasted a home run in the ninth for good measure.
Mealy went 6 ⅓ innings for Monmout while allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, two walks and two punch outs. In relief, Kevin Opanel fired 2 ⅔ scoreless frames while surrendering two hits for the save.
Through six innings, Hunter Colagrande gave up five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out six Hawks. His older brother Aidan racked up three strikeouts while allowing three runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman across two innings out of the bullpen.
Whitehill picked up two hits — including a homer — and drove in three runs while Hunt and Buecker also notched multi-hit games with an RBI apiece. Fahey drove in a run while Richter tallied a two-run homer and scored a pair of runs.
Cervoni went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Chanz Doughty collected two hits and scored a run. Carson delivered a two-run blast for his lone hit on the day and Dromboski doubled and scored.
Due to rain in the forecast on Sunday, the two sides will wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Hofstra 10, UNCW 1
Though the Pride’s offense had a big day, it did not need to do all that much because of Carlos Martinez’s dominance on the bump. Over 6 ⅔ innings, Martinez fanned 15 batters while allowing one run on seven hits and a walk.
Hofstra jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third, which would be all it ended up needing despite adding more. With two runners on and two outs, Tyler Cox sent an RBI single into right-center field before Gabriel Melara banged a Connor Marshburn pitch into center to score another.
During the following frame, the Pride did more damage with two outs, as Nick Biddle doubled home a run.
The Pride then put together a four-run fifth inning to make it a blowout. With two runners and two outs, Danny Corona picked up an RBI single. Immediately after, Marshburn plunked Tyler Castrataro to load the bases before walking Sam Leonard to force a run home.
Jackson Caldwell took over on the bump from there, but Trevor Lucas committed a throwing error on a potential inning-ending play, allowing the Pride to scratch two runs across.
Corona added another RBI single in the sixth and in the seventh, CJ Griggs plated a pair with a base knock.
In relief, Jackson Bauer struck out three Seahawks and hit one over 2 ⅓ scoreless and hitless innings.
Marshburn allowed seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits, two walks, a hit batsman and two strikeouts across 4 ⅔ innings.
Griggs went 4-for-5 on the day with two RBIs and two runs. Corona, Biddle, Cox and Leonard all recorded multi-hit games, with Corona plating a pair and Biddle, Cox and Leonard each tallying one RBI apiece. Melara also picked up an RBI.
JP Pennella drove in UNCW’s lone run with a single.
The Pride will look to clinch the series victory on Saturday, First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
LIU 16, Coppin State 7
Nicholas Finarelli and the Sharks got off to a rough start on Friday. After LIU had a runner gunned down at home to start the game, Finarelli served up a grand slam to Pedro Agosto in the bottom of the first.
However, the Sharks’ offense came alive in short order. Following a Nate Figueroa RBI single in the second, LIU tied the game in the fourth. With two runners on and Luke Corcoran on the mound, Joseph Durso blasted a three-run bomb down the left field line.
Jake Cumming took over to start the fifth and struggled mightily, as he walked three batters and hit one to force in a run. Coppin State then summoned Nick Dolbin from the bullpen, who surrendered a sacrifice fly to Nick Matson and a two-run double to Cord Dobrinski before allowing another run to score on a wild pitch.
The Eagles got three runs back in the bottom of the frame to pull within two runs, but the Sharks executed a double steal to snag a run before Durso plated another run with a single.
LIU picked up three more runs in the seventh and another two in the eighth to rout Coppin State.
Durso, Figueroa, Matson and Ryan RIvera all registered two hits each. Durso led the way with four RBIs while Matson, Dobrinski and Elijah Fairchild all had two. Figueroa and Mike Polubinski also drove in a run apiece.
Along with Agosto’s blow, Jordan Treadwell and Armando Hurtado also tallied RBIs.
Finarelli struck out six Eagles while allowing seven runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batsman over five frames.
Corcoran went four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, no walks, two hit batsmen and one strikeout.
With one win under its belt, LIU will aim to capture a series victory at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Fordham 9, La Salle 7
In the early goings of the series opener, the Rams came into the matchup ready to slug, as Anthony Grabau belted a solo shot in the first inning.
WIth the bases loaded and no outs during the second, Fordham plated a run on a double play before Tim Ford singled another run home. Immediately after, Taylor Kirk tripled into center field to cap off the third-run inning.
Tommy McAndrews led off the third inning with a homer off Kross Howarth and with Chase Forester on the mound for the Explorers in the fourth, Grabau blasted a two-run shot for his second longball of the game.
The Rams were not in the clear just yet, as Alec Welshans took Beau Elson deep to right field for a three-run homer to get La Salle back in it. Welshans homered again in the sixth to make it 7-4.
However, Fordham added what wound up being the game-winning run in the eighth, as Tommy Markey sent a Connor Collora pitch into center for an RBI knock.
Welshans completed the hat trick in the bottom of the frame with a two-run tank to make it 8-6, but Mason Dean plated a runner with a double in the ninth to give the Rams more breathing room.
Carter Groen clubbed a solo shot off Declan Cawley in the ninth, but he induced a flyout to seal the game immediately after.
Grabau drove in three runs with his two homers while Dean notched three doubles with an RBI, two runs and a walk. Along with McAndrews’ tank, Markey, Ford and Kirk all recorded an RBI.
Welshans hammered three homers with six RBIs. Groen’s homer accounted for the Explorers’ other run and Chase Swain tallied three hits.
Elson allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings. Cawley secured a nine-out save while allowing three runs on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
Howarth lasted just two-plus innings in his start, as he coughed up five runs on six hits and two hit batsmen.
The series will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:45 p.m.
St. John’s 4, UConn 0
The Red Storm cruised to a series-opening win over the Huskies thanks to a gem from their ace — Liam O’Leary. The right-hander twirled a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits with no walks and a hit batsman while striking out a pair.
UConn’s Charlie West delivered a terrific start in his own right, but the Johnnies were able to find some cracks in his armor in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Jon LeGrande drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.
Immediately after, Jayder Raifstanger singled home a run and Jackson Marshall committed an error on the play at first base, allowing an additional run to cross the plate.
Rob Mansour drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth to tack on an insurance marker.
West went eight innings to the tune of three runs (two earned), five hits, four walks, a hit batsman and 10 strikeouts.
Ayden Frey and Adam Agresti both recorded two hits while Raifstanger, Mansour and LeGrande all picked up RBIs.
Marshall made up for half of the Huskies’ four hits.
St. John’s and UConn will end their respective weekends with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Division II:
Game 1: Adelphi 4, SNHU 3
Game 2: Adelphi 1, SNHU 22 F/7
Though their bats were quiet to start the game, the Panthers came alive late to earn a comeback win.
In the meantime, John Carver diced up the Penmen to deliver another dominant start. Aside from a run-scoring single by Marc Cisco and a solo homer by Joel Valera being his only two blemishes, Carver finished the day with 11 strikeouts and allowed five hits, two walks and a hit batsman over seven strong innings.
Jake Lapham opposed him in the pitchers’ duel by twirling seven scoreless frames while allowing four hits, no walks and one hit-by-pitch. Lapham worked efficiently, as he struck out just one batter while pitching to contact over his 79-pitch day.
However, his defense failed him in the eighth. After he committed an error of his own to put the leadoff man on, Valera committed a throwing error on a bunt attempt to put two runners on. From there, Jack Davis entered in relief, but Casey Cumiskey committed another fielding error on a ball Zach DeMilt sent his way to bring Adelphi’s first run of the day home.
With the score now 2-1, Davis hit the next batter before getting the following two to fly out. However, Evan Carway did not let him escape the bases-loaded jam, as he banged a go-ahead, two-run single up the middle to put the Panthers ahead 3-2.
When Davis came back out for the ninth, it seemed as though he was destined to keep SNHU’s deficit at one run, but Adelphi put together a two-out rally to add an insurance run. Following two quick outs, Anthony Rigogliosi sent a single up the middle before swiping second base. Immediately after, DeMilt picked up another RBI by yanking a single into left-center field.
That extra run paid dividends, as in the bottom of the ninth inning, Valera greeted Michael Tufo with a leadoff homer to make it 4-3. Tufo walked two batters in the inning, prompting the Panthers to turn to Zach Rovner, who got Cisco to strikeout looking to earn the save.
Game two did not go nearly as smoothly for Adelphi.
With two Penmen in scoring position in the bottom of the third, Cisco picked up an RBI on a groundout before Tyler Bonsignore hurled a wild pitch to plate another run. Following a walk during the ensuing at-bat, RBI doubles by Jake Pisano and Valera sandwiched a run-scoring single by Shane McNamara to make it 5-0 SNHU.
Carway got the Panthers on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but the Penmen scored seven more runs in the bottom of the frame. Cisco once again got things started with a sacrifice fly of his own. C.J. Forman eventually relieved Bonsignore, but a two-run single to McNamara before Valera plated two more runs with a double.
Christian Cepin followed with a run-scoring single and Kyle Lavigne capped off the big inning with a solo shot.
In the fifth, McNamara started and ended a 10-run stanza for the Penmen. With the bases loaded, McNamara walked to force in a run to begin the party before capping it off with a two-RBI single.
Zak Whitney dominated the Panthers while toeing the rubber. Across his seven innings of work, Whitney allowed one run on four hits, a walk and two hit-by-pitches while striking out five batters.
Bonsignore surrendered eight runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit batsman with two punch outs over 3 ⅓ innings as Adelphi’s starter.
Across both games, Carway totaled two hits and three RBIs while DeMilt drove in a pair and recorded one hit.
Valera had a huge day at the dish for the Penmen, going 6-for-8 with three doubles, two homers, six RBIs, four runs scored and a walk. Cisco drove three runs in across both games while McNamara racked up six RBIs in game two alone.
In game two, Cepin plated a pair and Pisano brought one runner home. Cumiskey and Lavigne both notched homers, with Cumiskey’s being a grand slam.
Adelphi and SNHU will conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday.
Queens 11, Staten Island 14
With the game deadlocked at 1-1 after one, the Knights and the Dolphins each put up big numbers in the second inning. After Queens scratched an unearned run across the plate, Vincent Mallon knocked in two more with a double.
Following the double, Michael Furst walked three straight batters to force in a run. Anthony Abruzese took over on the hill from there and allowed a two-RBI single to Thomas McElwee.
In the bottom of the second, Vincent Weigele doubled home a run before Jamel Vera drove in a run with a groundout. Michael Flashner then doubled into right-center field to plate another run and during the ensuing at-bat, Jason Romance blasted a two-run homer to left-center to bring Staten Island within a run.
In the third, Mallon belted a two-run shot and and in the fourth, Tommy Pasqua notched an RBI single off Aidan Kielty to extend Queens’ lead to 10-6.
Despite being down by four runs, the Dolphins slugged their way back into the contest. Ryan Ortega deposited a solo shot over the left-center field fence in the sixth and soon after, Brandon Bartick cranked a two-run shot off Michael Vilardi to make it 10-9.
During the following inning, the Dolphins loaded the bases against Peter Nenadich III. Johnny Dezago came in to try to extinguish the fire with one out, but he allowed a two-RBI single to Weigele that ended up clearing the bases due to a throwing error by Nick Piazza, putting Staten Island in front 12-10.
Pasqua got the Knights back within a run during the eighth, but Jaden Waterman cracked a two-run double to pad the Dolphins’ lead.
In the ninth, Jack Kehoe worked around a double to lock down the save.
Mallons and McElwee both delivered three hits for Queens with four and two RBIs, respectively. Pasqua tallied two RBIs while Paul Fiene, Henry Tolentino and Jordan Babbo drove in a run apiece.
On the other side, Weigele totaled three hits and three RBIs. Bartick, Waterman and Romance each plated a pair of runners while Vera, Flashner and Ryan Ortega all drove in a run.
Kehoe did it all, driving in a run with three hits while also going 1 ⅔ scoreless innings with two strikeouts to pick up the save. Furst allowed seven runs in 1 ⅔ frames, though only one was earned. Kielty got the win in long relief, surrendering two runs on five hits, two walks and a punch out over 4 ⅔ innings.
Vilardi got the start for Queens and allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits, three walks and a strikeout over six innings.
Queens and Staten Island will lock horns again for a twin bill on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for noon.
D’Youville 4, Molloy 6
The Lions got off to a roaring start, as Sean Welsh crushed a two-run bomb off Billy Morris in the bottom of the first inning.
Nonetheless, the Saints pulled ahead in the top of the second. Garett Wilson took James Sill deep to cut the deficit in half and Derek Onevelo recorded a sacrifice fly later in the frame to tie the game. With a runner still in scoring position, Kevin Del Vecchio sent a run-scoring single into center field to give D’Youville a 3-2 advantage.
Jack Vallario knotted the game up again in the fourth with a solo blast.
Though Colby Wilson notched an RBI single in the top of the sixth to put the Saints back in front, Vallario and the Lions responded right away. After Jeremy Taggart doubled, Vallario singled home the tying run.
During the following frame, Molloy filled the bases against Eric Osterstrom, who eventually hurled a wild pitch to bring in the go-ahead run for the Lions. In the eighth, Brian Sanchez singled in a run on a bunt to pad the Lions’ lead.
In the ninth, Jayden Patel retired the Saints in order for his sixth save of the year.
Vallario drove in a pair of runs and scored twice while tallying three hits. Welsh notched two hits, with one being a two-run homer, while Charlie Imhof also collected two hits. Mike Sweeney added three knocks and Sanchez drove in a run.
For D’Youville, Onevelo, Del Vecchio and Colby and Garett Wilson each drove in a run.
Sill went six innings for Molloy while pitching to four runs (three earned), five hits, two walks, a hit batsman and seven strikeouts. Artie Green earned the win after allowing a hit and striking out one across 1 ⅓ scoreless frames. Patel issued one walk and did not allow a hit over his 1 ⅔ scoreless innings.
In six innings, Morris gave up four runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. From the bullpen, Osterstrom surrendered two runs on four hits and three walks.
The series will continue with a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday.