April 13, 2009

Box Score

Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The Adelphi University baseball team travelled to Rockville Centre, New York for an East Coast Conference doubleheader versus Molloy College on Monday, April 13. The Panthers defeated the Lions in game one by a score of 1-0, but fell in the nightcap as the Lions came up victorious 5-3. With the split, Adelphi is now 19-8 overall, 11-2 in ECC play, while Molloy goes to 17-13 overall, 8-5 in the conference.

Game 1

The first game featured a pitchers' duel between Adelphi sophomore Keith Couch and Molloy's Justin Jorgensen, as both hurlers went the distance. Couch tossed a complete-game shutout as the Panthers defeated the Lions, 1-0. Couch allowed four hits, surrendered no walks, and struck out eight in nine innings. He improves to 5-1 on the season. Molloy's Jorgensen allowed one unearned run, on two hits while striking out two in the tough loss.

The Panthers lone run of the ballgame came in the top of the third inning. Junior Justin Ciamillo reached on a Lions error, and advanced to second on a fielder's choice by freshman Craig Matteo. One batter later, senior Robert Paccione smacked a RBI single to left that brought Ciamillo home from second.

Jorgensen kept the Panther bats silenced the remainder of the contest. He only surrendered a single by senior Mike Colonna in the top of the fifth inning with two outs for the final Adelphi hit.

Couch fought his way out of three Molloy threats to secure the shutout, including one in the seventh when Mendez singled up the middle to start the seventh inning, Benez hit a dribbler down the first base line that senior Bill Melillo snared, stepped on first base and then threw a bullet to Romeo for the three-six double play. Couch struck out Steve Rodriguez swinging to conclude the inning.

Couch's biggest challenge was in the bottom of the second inning. Robert LaRusso and T.J. Greig recorded consecutive singles to start Molloy's portion of the inning. With two on and no outs, Couch popped Menendez up and got Benes to ground out to first, which moved the base runners 90 feet. Two outs and La Russo and Greig in scoring position, Couch struck out Rodriguez to deter any potential runs for the Lions.

Game 2

Molloy's three-run third inning was the difference in their split over the Panthers in game two. With the game tied at two, the Lions would put five on base, scoring two runs before sophomore Salvatore Persico entered the game.

Persico came in with the bases loaded and no outs and struck out Keith Kenny looking and following a walk to Patrick Walsh which brought home LaRusso for the third run of the inning, Persico induced Anthony Luisi into a six-four-three ground ball double play.

Adelphi crawled back into Molloy's lead in the top of the fifth inning as senior Ryan Boelsen smoked a RBI single up the middle scoring Paccione, to cut the deficit to two runs, 5-3. However, that was as close as Adelphi would get, falling by the score of 5-3.

The Panthers had runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, but Mike Colonna grounded out to first, ending the threat.

Adelphi tied the game at two in the top of the third inning. Boelsen doubled down the right field line into the Panthers bullpen which scored Paccione and after LaRusso misplayed the ball, Boelsen motored into third. The next batter, Melillo's sacrifice scored Boelsen.

The Panthers conclude their three game series with the Lions on Tuesday, April 14 when they host Molloy at 3:30 p.m.