Old Westbury, N.Y. - The Adelphi University baseball team kicked off a non-conference series against Long Island foe NYIT in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, winning the first of a three-game series, 11-6, at Angelo Lorenzo Memorial Field.
Adelphi (23-14-1) built an 11-0 lead after seven-and-a-half innings of play, as the visiting team scored a high of four runs in the eighth, following a three-run fourth and scattered runs across the second, third and seventh innings.
Steven Withers helped create for Adelphi as the top of the lineup, as he went 1-for-2 with three walks, including two stolen bases and three runs scored. Tyler Becker, Lawrence Cicileo and Brett Malm each contributed one hit on three at-bats, and combined for five RBIs.
On the mound, Michael Demarest and Troy Simpson combined for seven scoreless innings, striking out nine NYIT batters combined on just four hits. Simpson fanned a new career-best of five over his relief outing of four innings pitched.
The Brown and Gold were the first to get on the board after a silent first inning by both squads. Adelphi took advantage of a walked batter and two errors on the home team, tallying the first run of the game. In the next frame, the Panthers put two more on the board as Withers kicked things off in the leadoff spot with a single to right field. After advancing on an error and stealing third, Withers and Becker crossed home plate off an RBI single by Lawrence Cicileo.
Sitting with the 3-0 lead, Adelphi would put up three more runs in the fourth inning, tacking on the first two after NYIT starter Christopher Miller walked in Michael Cattani and induced a sac fly from Thomas Colombo immediately after. Withers increased the Adelphi lead 6-0, stealing home in the next at-bat.
The score remained for the next two innings with Simpson holding the Bears at bay, and Brett Malm slammed a solo homer down the left field line in the seventh, making the score 7-0. The Brown and Gold later took a double digit lead, going up 11-0 on NYIT in the eighth inning. The four-run inning was credited with three singles by the Panthers and a sac fly to put the visiting team in double digits.
The Bears scored six runs in the final two innings against Austin Cole and Kieran McLaughlin, but ultimately the deficit proved too great to overcome for the home team.
The Panthers and Bears will continue their series tomorrow in Garden City. The doubleheader is scheduled for 12 and 3 p.m.
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 26 regular season conference titles, 28 tournament championships, 37 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
