Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University baseball team continued its recent trend of putting up large numbers in crunch time on Friday afternoon, as the Panthers defeated the College of Saint Rose in a pair, 15-6, and 7-5, to open a three-game Northeast-10 Conference divisional series.
Adelphi (26-5, 14-1 NE10), winners of 12 straight, out-slugged Saint Rose (10-20, 5-12 NE10) in the clutch, as it trailed in both games.
A five-run fourth in game one broke a 4-4 tie, and a six-run seventh put it away, to help Adelphi take home a nine-run win in a game in which the Panthers trailed, 4-2. In the nightcap, a staggering seven-run sixth helped flip a 5-0 deficit to run the home team's winning streak to a dozen.
Brett Malm led Adelphi in both games, batting 5-for-7 overall, and a perfect 2-for-2 in game two, both hits coming in the big sixth. The senior led off the frame with a solo home run to left, and cleared the bases with a three-run double as Adelphi batted around in the frame to help seal the comeback effort.
Senior Jordan Milo batted a perfect 4-for-4 game in the opener, in addition to tallying one RBI. Lucas Terwilliger was another standout on offense in game one, going 5-for-6 and scoring two runs. Malm and Thomas Colombo each added three hits, with the latter driving in three, while Jonathan Iadevaia, Michael Cattani and Brandon Warick contributed two hits each.
The hosts jumped out to a quick two-run lead over the Golden Knights on back-to-back RBI singles from Terwilliger and Iadevaia to bring home a hit Morse and walked Colombo. However, the visitors tied the score off a base hit for their first run, followed by a sac fly. They then went up 4-2 on Adelphi in the next at-bat on a long double to center field for two runs, in what was ultimately a four-run third inning.
The Panthers regained their lead in the fourth inning, beginning with an RBI double off Malm's bat to score Tim Feliz, followed by a two-run homer to left field from Colombo. To continue Adelphi's five-run rally, Cattani brought home Kyle Olson off a single through the left side, making the score read 8-4. The final run of the inning was scored off an RBI single to left field from Warick's stick.
To lead off the seventh, singles from the first four batters (Colombo, Terwilliger, Iadevaia and Olson) helped plate Adelphi's 10th run of the contest, and kick off a six-run frame. Immediately after, Cattani gave himself up to bring Terwilliger home and tack on one more for the Brown and Gold.
In the next at bat, Warwick continued the strong offense and put two more on the board after roping a ball to left center. The Panthers' final two runs were scored on a sacrifice fly courtesy of Feliz, followed by an RBI single from Colombo to end the inning at 15-5 before the game was won.
Nick Palmerini secured the win on the bump for Adelphi after throwing 2.1 innings and fanning three Saint Rose batters.
In the latter half of Friday's double header, the Golden Knights were looking to make a statement, going up 4-0 on the Panthers through the first three innings, beginning with a triple in the first to drive in the visitors' first run. In the next inning, Saint Rose went up 3-0 following a two-run single, and increased its lead once again in the next frame to hold a four-run lead thanks to an Adelphi passed ball.
After Malm got things going on the Panther offense in the sixth inning, Cattani stepped up with runners on second and third, and the center fielder gave himself up once again on a sacrifice fly but put the second out on the board.
Within three and despite two outs, Kevin Krippel stepped up as a pinch hitter for a two-run double that cut the Golden Knights' lead to one and brought Malm back up to the plate. The senior snatched the lead for the home team with a three-run double to center field for the board to read 7-5 in favor of the Panthers.
Tom Ambrosino closed the final inning for Adelphi, clinching his eighth save of the season. Daniel Taggart started on the mound in game two, hurling 5.0 innings and striking out six batters, despite giving up five runs, before Max Steele relieved him and earned his second win of the season.
The Brown and Gold will return to Bonomo Field tomorrow to close out its series with Saint Rose. Before the first pitch, the 12 graduating seniors will be honored in the program's Senior Day ceremony.
About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally and nationally competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.
Winners of 16 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Panther athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi athletic department is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.
Stay connected with Adelphi Athletics by following the Panthers at
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