STAC Baseball Ends Record Breaking Season
The STAC baseball team lost a tough game to defending tournament champion Adelphi University this afternoon by the score of 3-1. STAC was tied with Adelphi 1-1 in the 8th inning when senior, John Mazzello hit a triple positioning himself as the go ahead run. Unfortunately, Mazzello was thrown out at the plate leaving the score unchanged. Mazzello had a solid day at the plate going 3 for 3 with a walk. Dan McDermott and David Schwartz each had 2 hits for the game. Vincent Malzahn had the lone Spartan RBI scoring John Mazzello.
Sophomore pitcher, Brian LaMarr had a solid outing pitching 5.1 innings, yielding a single run. Freshman Mark Fochesato pitched 2.2 innings, dealing 3 K's to the Panthers. Adelphi's Ryan Boelsen hit a two run walk off homerun in the ninth to end the game at 3-1.
Earlier today STAC lost to LIU/C.W. Post, last year's tournament runner-up by a score of 9-4. STAC senior pitcher, Joel Violette went 7.1 strong innings, giving up 3 runs (one earned) in a no decision. STAC scored 3 runs in the 8th inning to take the lead 4-3. Freshman Fernando Peralta had the go ahead RBI, giving STAC a one run lead. Peralta was 2 for 3 with a walk. Pat Murray, Kevin Connors and Mike Triana each had an RBI for the day.
STAC was 2 outs away from the win, when a strong offensive outburst by C.W. Post, produced 6 runs, making the score 9-4 to finish up the top of the 9th. Post retired the STAC batters 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.
"Although today had a disappointing outcome, we have a lot to be proud of," commented head coach, Scott Muscat. "We wouldn't have been in the situation we were in today as the number one seed and regular season champs if it wasn't for the way we played in the 50 games prior to this weekend."
Muscat is sad to lose his six seniors; John Mazzello, Jonathan Della Monica, Anthony Russo, Mike Triana, Ottice Reda, and Joel Violette, who provided a foundation for future success. "It was a hard day for the seniors, emotions were running high." However, five of this year's pitchers were freshmen and seven of the starting nine position players were underclassmen who gained valuable experience, including post-season experience, so the future is looking bright.