FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – SUNY Old Westbury baseball (8-3, 6-3 Skyline) split a doubleheader for the second-consecutive day against the Farmingdale State College Rams (11-8, 10-5 Skyline) and fell 4-1 in the Skyline Conference matchup and won the non-conference game 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Game 1: Farmingdale State 4, Old Westbury 1
In the top second inning, the Rams scored a trio of runs off of Panther starter
Justin Aviles (L, 0-1: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 K) that were highlighted by RBI singles by Chris Driscoll (2-for-5, RBI) and Bobby Pollack to help give them a 3-0 advantage.
Aviles settled down as he retired nine-straight Rams from innings three through five, but Ram relief pitcher Joe Marino (W, 1-1: 5.1 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 7 K) matched Aviles as he also refused to surrender a run during that stretch.
In the home half of the seventh,
Sean Paprocki (1-for-3, RBI) slapped a single up the middle off Marino that drove home
Jacob Taormina (1-for-2, R) to cut Old Westbury's deficit to two (3-1).
However, in the top of the final inning the Rams added another insurance run on a single up the middle by Philip Gerard brought their lead back to three (4-1).
In the bottom of the ninth, closer Michael Schock (SV, 1: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, K) would get a save and secure the 4-1 Skyline Conference victory for the Rams.
Game 2: Old Westbury 2, Farmingdale State 1
Old Westbury's pitching depth was on display in the second game of the twinbill as seven different pitchers took the mound including
Vinny Trovato (ND: 1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K),
Brendan Wright (ND: 0.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K),
Joseph Bekios (W, 1-0: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K),
William Amendola (ND: 0.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 K),
Frank Whitenack (ND: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K),
Nick Vitale (ND: 0.2 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 0 K) and
Joshua Cruz (SV, 1: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K).
The Panthers broke the scoring ice In the home half of the third inning as
Jamal Ritter (2-for-3, RBI) hit a single to left center field off of Ram relief pitcher, Jake Thomas (L, 0-1: 1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, K) that scored
Patrick Schriffen (2-for-2, RBI, R) to give them a 1-0 edge.
In the top of the fourth inning, Whitenack inherited a one-out bases loaded jam and escaped the inning unscatched by striking out Joseph Tardino and then got Louis Annunziata to fly out to the right fielder,
Drew Robertson to conclude the frame.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Panthers added to their lead as Schriffen brought home Robertson on a single through the right side to give the home team a 2-0 cushion.
Although the Rams scored a run in the top of the sixth inning, it would not be enough as Cruz would retire them in order to preserve his first save of the season en route to a 2-1 non-conference victory.
UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: SUNY Old Westbury baseball (8-3, 6-3 Skyline) continues its season on the road against the Mount Saint Mary College Knights (8-7, 6-6 Skyline) with a twinbill on Saturday (May 1) at 12 p.m. in Newburgh, N.Y.
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