By Anthony DiCocco
With the NCAA Division II and III regular seasons coming to an end this weekend, there were a whopping 20 games on this action-packed Friday. Let’s see how the action transpired.
Division I:
Towson 1, Hofstra 12 F/7
The Pride made sure to put this game away early. With runners in scoring position and one out in the bottom of the first inning, Gabriel Melara sent a sacrifice fly to center field, before Nick Gallello doubled down the left-field line to make it 2-0.
During the ensuing at-bat, Tyler Cox dumped a run-scoring single into center field. Cox eventually stole second base, allowing Nick Biddle to pick up a run batted in (RBI) by banging a single up the middle.
CJ Griggs notched an RBI double during the second inning and Gallello hammered a solo shot to right field to lead off the third.
Brian Heckelman finally broke Carlos Martinez’s shutout bid in the sixth, but Hofstra touched home four more times in the bottom of the frame. After Griggs tripled to drive in a run, Melara clobbered a three-run bomb.
In the seventh, Griggs sent a two-run homer out to right-center field, walking off the Tigers in mercy-rule fashion.
Griggs had a monster day, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored as he fell a base hit shy of the cycle. Michael Brown recorded three knocks and scored three times.
Martinez struck out seven batters and allowed one run on five hits and a walk over 6 ⅓ innings.
The Pride, who currently hold the top wild-card spot in the Coastal Athletic Association, will look to clinch the series victory at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
LIU 13, Mercyhurst 3 F/8
While down 3-0, the Sharks attacked the Lakers for 10 runs off three pitchers in the sixth inning.
After walking the first two batters he faced, Matthew Delvaux was pulled for Noah Kirsch, who immediately surrendered an RBI single to Ryan Rivera. Two batters later, Cord Dobrinski was plunked with the bases loaded, before Nick Matson drove in another run.
Joseph Durso followed by plating two more runners to chase Kirsch from the game, but Noah Ehlers did not fare much better, as Noah Sorensen delivered a bases-clearing double after LIU reloaded the bases. From there, Rivera belted a two-run blast to put a cap on the lopsided inning.
In the eighth, an RBI double by Dobrinski was sandwiched between run-scoring singles from Elijah Fairchild and Durso, giving the Sharks a big enough lead to run-rule Mercyhurst after the frame came to an end.
Durso and Fairchild each tallied three hits with three RBIs and one, respectively. Rivera drove in three runs on his two knocks while Sorensen scored three times and plated three runs with his double.
Nicholas Finarelli coughed up three runs on nine hits and a walk with five punch outs over 4 ⅓ innings. Torin Kassebaum earned the win in relief, twirling 3 ⅔ scoreless frames while allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
Following their blowout win, the Sharks will try to piece together another dominant performance at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Creighton 3, St. John’s 10
The Red Storm rode a big third inning to victory in this one. With a runner at third base, Lewis Rodriguez picked up an RBI, infield single to tie the game at 1-1. Following a walk, Jayder Raifstanger singled home a run, before Shaun McMillan delivered the major blow by crushing a three-run homer to left-center field to make it 5-1.
During the sixth, McMillan struck again with a solo shot. Dylan Fitzsimmons collected an RBI with a double in the seventh and immediately after, Jon LeGrande notched another two-bagger to drive in two more runs.
Ben North homered for Creighton in the top of the eighth, but Cristian Bernardini washed it away with a solo bomb of his own in the bottom half.
McMillan went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs while Bernardini went 3-for-3 with a homer. Rodriguez tallied two hits while LeGrande drove in a pair of runs.
Liam O’Leary went six innings to the tune of one run — a solo shot by Isaac Wachsmann — three hits, two walks, a hit batsman and seven strikeouts.
St. John’s and the Blue Jays will continue their series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Fordham 8, Rhode Island 5
With the contest deadlocked at 2-2, Fordham showed off its power to separate itself from the other Rams for good. To start the fifth inning, Tommy McAndrews and Joey Donnelly went back-to-back to make it 4-2.
Reece Moroney doubled home a run in the bottom of the frame to cut Rhode Island’s deficit in half, but Fordham sealed the game with a productive sixth inning. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Taylor Kirk sent a groundball to third base to drive in a run and Brian Connolly’s throw to first went awry to plate one more runner.
Later in the inning, Donnelly went yard for the second time in the game, as he deposited a two-run homer over the right-center field fence to make it 8-3.
Danny Leikus, who went 4-for-4 on the day, notched an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to pull Rhode Island within four runs. However, aside from a solo shot by Jack Hopko in the ninth, Rhode Island could not accomplish anything else offensively.
McAndrews recorded two other knocks aside from his homer while Donnelly went 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs. Tim Ford and Tommy Markey each picked up an RBI as well, with Markey tallying two hits, including a double.
Beau Elson allowed four runs on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts over six frames. Declan Cawley earned a nine-out save, fanning one batter while allowing a run on three hits and a free pass.
The battle of the Rams will carry over into Saturday with a 1 p.m. start time.
Division II:
Game 1: Adelphi 6, Bentley 18
Game 2: Adelphi 3, Bentley 7 F/7
Not much went right for Adelphi on Friday. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, a seven-run third, which was highlighted by a three- and two-run homers by Brendan Senjac and Tommy Goonan, respectively, all but solidified a loss in game one.
While down 12-0 in the eighth, the Panthers scored six runs, including RBI singles by Evan Carway and Matt Ryan and a two-run double by Johnny Catuosco. However, the Falcons canceled that output out with six runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth to cruise to a blowout win.
Albert Ramos got the Panthers off to a better start in game two with a first-inning, RBI single, but Bentley ended the good vibes immediately. Stan DeMartinis III tied the game with a run-scoring base hit in the bottom of the frame, before Senjac notched a sacrifice fly to put the Falcons in front.
During the following inning, Jared Berardino stepped up to the dish with two runners on base and sent a two-run double to left field to make it 4-1.
After Jimmy Mitchell drove in another run for Bentley in the fifth, Giancarlo Rengifo doubled home a run in the sixth and Justin Wilkinson followed by driving him in with a single.
However, a leadoff homer by DeMartinis III in the bottom of the frame put the Falcons ahead by three runs and two Adelphi errors prolonged the inning, allowing Brian Hersh to restore Bentley’s four-run advantage for good with a sacrifice fly.
Catuosco recorded three hits and two RBIs across both games while Ryan notched four hits with an RBI. Ramos tallied three knocks with an RBI for the day while Wilkinson picked up two hits and an RBI in his lone start. Bryan McCleary went hitless in game two, but had three during the opener.
Eric Ressegger coughed up eight runs on 10 hits, a walk and a hit batsman in two innings as the game-one starter. Dylan Beirne surrendered five runs on eight knocks, six walks and two punch outs over 4 ⅔ frames in game two.
The Panthers will wrap up their regular season with a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday.
Game 1: Molloy 12, Staten Island 1
Game 2: Molloy 6, Staten Island 7 F/7
The Lions dominated in the opener. With runners at the corners in the first inning, Sean Welsh singled a run home. Two batters later, Charlie Imhof clutched up with a two-out, RBI single, before Jack Coogan doubled another run home to make it 3-0.
With Molloy leading 4-1 in the sixth, the Lions blew the game open. Joe Burriesci was able to send a sacrifice fly deep enough to score two runners and soon after, Brian Sanchez banged a run-scoring single up the middle. During the ensuing at-bat, Welsh stayed hot by blasting a two-run bomb to left field.
Before the contest came to a close, Welsh notched a second two-run shot and John Franco doubled a run home.
Game two appeared to be much of the same to start, but Staten Island fought back. After finding themselves in a 3-0 hole during the first, the Dolphins erased the deficit in the second.
Molloy pulled ahead 6-3 in the fourth inning, but Staten Island plated a run in the bottom of the fourth, before taking the lead for good in the sixth. After Gabe Klarikaitis walked two batters and plunked one to load the bases, Thomas Charlwood was called upon to put the fire out, but he hurled a wild pitch to start his outing as a Staten Island runner crossed the plate.
Immediately after, Jamel Vera banged a go-ahead, two-run single back up the middle. The Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, but Aidan Kielty pulled a Houdini act as he got out of the inning unscathed to secure the save and a Dolphins win.
Welsh went 4-for-7 with two homers, five RBIs, six runs scored and two walks across both contests. Sanchez and Coogan each collected three hits in game one, with Coogan driving in two runs and Sanchez plating one.
In game two, Steve Mulqueen tallied two RBIs while Sean Serrano registered one.
Despite allowing five hits and walks, Sean Mileti delivered 6 ⅔ innings of one-run baseball with two strikeouts during his start to open the two-game set. Artie Green followed by allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits, three walks, a hit-by-pitch and five punch outs over five innings during the second half of the twin bill.
The Lions will hope to finish their regular season off strong against the Dolphins at noon on Saturday.
Game 1: Mercy 7, Queens 6
Game 2: Mercy 4, Queens 11 F/7
After Nevin Scaperotti sent a two-run double to left field to put Mercy ahead 4-1 in the second inning, Vincent Mallon responded with a two-run homer in the third to bring the Knights within a run. Mallon struck again in the fifth, belting a solo shot to make it a one-run game again after Zach Ashline went liftoff for a two-run shot in the top of the frame.
However, Dylan Koch crushed a solo homer to left field in the seventh for the eventual game-winning run. John Harkins led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo shot of his own to keep Queens in it, but the Knights left the bases loaded to end the frame, wasting their best chance at getting even.
Game two saw Queens ride a sixth-inning offensive outburst to victory. After Sean McAdams doubled to put the Mavericks ahead 4-3 in the top of the frame, the Knights exploded for eight runs.
Dylan Vikara singled home a run, Henry Tolentine crushed a three-run bomb. Later in the frame, Mallon collected an RBI single and Peter Bounougias doubled home a run immediately after. To cap off the big inning, Joshua Angely dumped a two-RBI single into center field.
Across the two games, Harkins totaled four hits, including two homers, with four RBIs while Angely went 5-for-8 with a double, homer and three RBIs. Mallon had a big day, going 5-for-6 with a double, two long balls and four RBIs.
During the opener, Severino Napolitano Jr. went 6 ⅓ innings while allowing six runs on eight hits despite striking out nine batters and walking none. Christopher Naronis struck out seven Mavericks across seven innings and surrendered four runs on 11 hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
The Knights will end their four-game series against Mercy on the road at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Division III:
Game 1: Farmingdale 7, Purchase 2 F/7
Game 2: Farmingdale 4, Purchase 1
The Rams put together a nice day leading up to their final set of games tomorrow, as they swept a doubleheader. Led by Kaolis Delacruz’s two-run double, Farmingdale posted three runs in the fifth inning of game one to break a 1-1 tie and added three more in the sixth, including a two-RBI single off Sean Maldonado’s bat, to put the contest to bed.
The second half of the doubleheader was a much tighter affair. With the score knotted at 1-1 once again, Delacruz put the Rams in front by scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh. Two innings later, Ryan Wasserman drove in two runs with a double to tack on insurance as Farmingdale completed the sweep.
Thomas O’Neill dealt during game two, going 8 ⅓ innings while allowing a run on six knocks, four walks and a hit batsman while striking out eight batters. TJ Cox went four innings in game one to the tune of one run on five hits and two punch outs. Derek Watts notched saves in both games, including a three-inning outing in the opener.
Delacruz and Maldonado each plated two runs in the opener while Matt Faraone and Dom LaFroscia drove in one apiece. In game two, John Francisco picked up an RBI in addition to Wasserman’s pair.
Farmingdale will now lock horns with Old Westbury in a twin bill beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Game 1: Old Westbury 4, St. Joseph’s Brooklyn 0
Game 2: Old Westbury 13, St. Joseph’s Brooklyn 3
Vinny Giambona was the story of game one. The right-hander recorded a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and no walks while fanning nine batters over seven innings. With his performance, an RBI groundout by Mike Tiseo in the first inning was the difference. James Reilly posted the Panthers only other RBI in the game with a single and another run scored via an error on the same play. Old Westbury’s final run came on a wild pitch.
In game two, the Panthers’ bats carried them to victory. JJ Palumbo and Tiseo both clubbed solo blasts over the left-center field fence in the opening inning.
Old Westbury scored a run in each of the next three innings, before getting three in the fifth. Dean Pasolini led off the frame with a homer and two batters later, Sean Maddi found the right-field seats for a two-run round-tripper.
Mike Petrucelly tallied a two-run shot in the sixth and for the rest of the way, the two sides each scored three runs to make it a 13-3 final.
Brandon Hernandez and Nick Miller both notched two RBIs while Angelo Velez collected one. Pasolini added an additional run batted in on top of his homer.
Justin Aramini surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five Bears in 5 ⅓ frames.
Game 1: Mount St. Vincent 4, St. Joseph’s Long Island 10 F/7
Game 2: Mount St. Vincent 2, St. Joseph’s Long Island 14 F/7
St. Joseph’s reeled off a five-run second inning to waltz to a victory. Dom Crema started things off with a run-scoring double and Paul McNally bookended it with a two-run two-bagger. With the score at 7-2 in the sixth, McNally homered, before Crema tripled two runs in for good measure.
Joe Hackal, Connor Bunce and Alex Johnston drove runs in while Marco Gullo swiped home plate. On top of his big day at the plate, McNally went six innings on the bump and pitched to two runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
While attempting to complete the sweep, the Golden Eagles produced at least a run in every inning they stepped into the batter’s box. McNally and Andrew Amarando each recorded three hits and three RBIs while Hackal, Johnston, Ryan Kurre, Rob Page and Frankie Asaro tallied an RBI apiece.
Ryan Callaghan earned the win on the mound while allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk with five punch outs.
The Golden Eagles will now turn their attention to the Skyline playoffs, which are set to kick off on Wednesday.
Game 1: Yeshiva 4, Maritime 14 F/7
Game 2: Yeshiva 3, Maritime 22 F/7
The Privateers put on a show during their sweep of the Maccabees. In game one, Dylan Payano collected two hits and drove in four runs while Guytano Kiesel picked up three RBIs and recorded a multi-hit game as well.
Randy Ventura, Alex Bardi and Owen Weber, who doubled, notched an RBI apiece.
On the mound, Jackson Tucholski struck out seven batters over four innings and pitched to four runs on four hits and a walk. Jack Kellner allowed just one hit and collected three strikeouts during a scoreless, nine-out save.
Maritime posted a run in six of the second half of the doubleheader’s seven innings, including a seven-run sixth. The Privateers also scored four runs in each of the first, fourth and seventh frames.
Chris Picarella reached base five times, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, a walk and three steals. Ventura, Payano, Bardi and Alex Guzman all recorded muti-hit games with two RBIs each.
Joey Goodman drove in three runs while Weber plated a pair. Dominick Viggiano and David Granucci both tallied an RBI.
Along with tallying 18 hits and walking eight times, the Privateers ran rampant on the bases, as they totaled 16 steals in game two. Andrew Heiderstadt went six innings, striking out three batters while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, four walks and a hit batsman.
Maritime and Purchase will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday to close their respective regular seasons. Game one is set for noon.
Game 1: Mount St. Mary 3, USMMA 0 F/7
Game 2: Mount St. Mary 3, USMMA 4
Michael Pisseri never gave the Mariners a chance in the opener. Pisseri was masterful, twirling a complete-game, one-hit shutout. He struck out five over his seven frames and allowed two walks and two hit batsmen.
At the plate, Stephen Volk delivered a pair of RBI singles, including plating what ended up being the game-winning run in the second inning. Christian Parisa also notched an RBI knock.
Despite taking a loss, Baxter Hamilton pitched well for USMMA. Across 5 ⅓ innings, he allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Game two consisted of a USMMA comeback. After Kaleb Morgan singled a run home and then scored on a passed ball later in the second inning, Alex Prechel sent a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom half of the frame to cut into the 2-0 deficit.
In the fourth, the Mariners’ Jason Brown tripled a run home to tie the game, before Drew Davis dumped a go-ahead, RBI single into center field. With two outs, Davin Fulton doubled home a much-needed insurance marker.
Axel Martinez made it 4-3 with an RBI double in the fifth, but the Mariners kept the Mountaineers at bay for the rest of the day to earn the win.
After recording their lone hit in game one, Charles Cahalan added two more in game two and scored twice. Brown and Christian Gamez also registered multiple hits in game two.
Eddie Lippert allowed three runs on five hits and no walks while recording four strikeouts to record the win. The Mariners’ bullpen combined to rack up nine strikeouts and limit Mount St. Mary to just two hits and a hit batsman over four scoreless innings. Their pitching staff did not issue a walk in the game.
Caden Pierce locked down the save and had three strikeouts.
On the other side, Peter Pappalardo took the loss despite battling through eight innings for a complete game.
USMMA will now take on Manhattanville in a twin bill on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.