PANTHERS SWEPT IN SEASON OPENER, 7-1, 10-9 (10 Innings)
MARCH 3, 2007
RUTHER GLEN, VA.-Old Westbury baseball was swept by Frostburg State in a season opening double-header loss of, 7-1 and 10-9 (10 Innings). Peter Reyes went the distance, allowing 10 hits and 5 earned runs in game one, a 7-1 loss. George Pagan started the second game and went 3 innings, surrendering 3 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 4 in a game two 10-9 extra inning loss. Robert Whitenack relieved Pagan with 3 innings of work and allowed 5 hits, 4 runs and struck out 3. John Pensa was credited with the loss when he relieved Whitenack with 3.1 innings of work and 1 strikeout, while giving up 4 hits and 2 earned runs.
In game one, Frostburg State scored the games first run in the bottom of the 1st inning when Andrew Derr scored from third base on an Andrew Speights double to right field to take an early 1-0 lead. Old Westbury came roaring back in the third inning when John Taglienti turned a single into a double on a throwing error. Taglienti advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jesse Germinario and later scored on a Darly Alcantara single to left field from Darly Alcantara which tied the score at 1-1. That was all the offense the Panthers would muster in the game as Frostburg State scored 2 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take game one of the season opening double-header, 7-1.
During game 2, Old Westbury got on the board when Greg Jones scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Felipe Martinez to take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Old Westbury wouldn't hold onto the lead for long when Frostburg State responded with a 4 run first inning offensive explosion of their own with three singles, a fielding error and two balks. The Panthers responded with an offensive clinic in the top of the third inning, scoring 5 runs to take a 6-4 lead. William Rada doubled to left field to drive in Darly Alcantara from second base and advanced Greg Jones to third base. Felipe Martinez knocked in Jones on a single hit up the middle. Brian Magas drew in a walk with the bases loaded to bring around Felipe Martinez to score. Jesse Germinario doubled to right fied to bring in both Brian Magas and Alan Anderson to put the Panthers on top 6-4. Old Westbury put up 2 more runs in the fifth inning when Darly Alcantara singled to left field to bring home Brian Magas and advanced Jesse Germinario to second base and John Taglienti to third base. Greg Jones hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Alcantara, giving Old Westbury an 8-4 advantage. Frostburg State then retaliated with a 4 run fifth inning on 4 hits to tie the game at 8-8. The Panthers scored a run in the top of the ninth inning when John Taglienti singled and stole second base followed by a Jesse Germinario single hit to centerfield to bring home Taglienti from second base. Frostburg State matched Old Westbury with a run off of Pensa in the bottom of the ninth inning on a double hit and single hit. The Panthers were unable to produce any offense in the tenth inning which allowed Frostburg State to capitalize on a hit batsman and two single hits to seal the deal in the bottom on the tenth inning for a 10-9 final.
Old Westbury's Felipe Martinez and Jesse Germinario went 3-for-5 at the plate with 3 RBIs apiece to lead the offensive blast for the Panthers in game two. William Rada was 3-for-5 with 1 RBI and Greg Jones was 2-for-5 with 1 RBI and scored twice. John Taglienti was 2-for-5 at the plate and also scored twice. Darly Alcantara collected 1 hit, an RBI and scored one run.
The Panthers (0-2) will return to action on Sunday against Frostburg State at Ruther Glen, Virginia. First pitch is scheduled at 11am. For more information about the Old Westbury Panthers or to follow your favorite sports and events, log onto http://www.oldwestburypanthers.com/.