April 26, 2006

Box Score

Sparkill, N.Y. - Chris Zinkiewicz (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Frank Valeriano (Oceanside, N.Y.) combined to limit St. Thomas Aquinas to four runs on seven hits, helping Adelphi to a 4-3 win. With the win, the Panthers run their current win streak to five games, while evening their record at 16-16 overall and improving to 12-5 in the NYCAC. The Spartans fall to 19-16 overall and 10-8 in the NYCAC.

After a scoreless first inning, Nick Testani (Williston Park, N.Y.) opened the top of the second with a single and followed that up by stealing second and then advancing to third on a wild pitch. A batter later Doug Anderson (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) grounded out, scoring Testani and giving Adelphi a 1-0 edge.

In the bottom of the second the Spartans knocked back-to-back doubles to knot the game at one. Then a sacrifice fly, scored a second a run, giving St. Thomas Aquinas a 2-1 cushion. The Spartans tacked on a third run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single, to extend their lead to 3-1.

Adelphi started chipping away at the St. Thomas Aquinas lead in the top of the fifth, pulling within one run, 3-2, on a Thomas Cali (Shirley, N.Y.) double, that scored Mike Colonna (Staten Island, N.Y.). A Joe Maranino (Bronx, N.Y.) single in the top of the sixth, scored Stephen Malvagna (East Meadow, N.Y.), knotting the game at three apiece.

In the top of the eighth inning, Adelphi scored what would be the game winning run. With runners on second and third and one out, Testani reached first on a Spartan error that allowed Brian Rath (Wantagh, N.Y.) to score the game winning run.

Zinkiewicz pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out four to pick up his fourth win of the season, while Valeriano pitched two innings of scoreless relief to collect the save.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, April 26 when they host Concordia at 1:00 pm for a NYCAC doubleheader.