April 24, 2009

Box Score

Kutztown, Pa. - Senior Bill Melillo hit a two-run home run to left field to cap off a five-run Panthers seventh inning to give Adelphi a 7-2 lead over Kutztown. Melillo finished 4-for-5 with 3 RBI's and one run scored. With the victory, the Panthers improve to 22-12 overall while the Golden Bears fall to 30-12 on the season.

The contest was tied at 2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, as five consecutive Panthers reached base with one out to put the game out of reach. Senior Robert Paccione hit the game-winning RBI single as senior Mike Colonna crossed the plate giving the Panthers its first lead of the ballgame, 3-2. After senior Matthew Kenny singled, senior Ryan Boelsen hit a RBI double to score Kenny to extend the Panthers lead to two. The damage was not done as one batter later; Melillo stepped to the batter's box and connected with a two-run homerun to give the Panthers insurance, leading 7-2.

The Golden Bears threatened to cut the deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning as they had runners on second and first with one-out, but sophomore Robert Nixon induced the Kutztown batter into a six-four-three ground-ball double play to end the frame.

Kenney's RBI double in the top of the eighth inning scored Paccione which extended the Panthers lead to 8-2. Kenney later scored the Panthers final run of the afternoon off of a Golden Bears throwing error.

The Panthers came back from two one run deficits earlier in the ballgame as Melillo hit a RBI double to score Boelsen, tying the game at 2 in the top of the sixth inning.

Nixon notched his fourth win of the season as he went seven innings, allowed seven hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out six.

The Panthers will travel to Bethpage, NY to square off against Briar Cliff College on Saturday, April 25th in a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.