From NYU Athletics
The New York University baseball team defeated SUNY Maritime 11-3 on Wednesday evening, April 13, at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.
The Violets improved to 12-13 overall, while the Privateers fell to 15-9.
"Good teams play good defense. All of our pitchers had good stuff today, got ahead of hitters, and overall we took advantage of Maritime's mistakes," said NYU Head Coach Doug Kimbler.
NYU got on the board first in the home half. Jack Walter led off with a hit-by-pitch. During the next at-bat, the rookie centerfielder stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the Privateer catcher. Ryan McLaughlin plated his classmate with an sacrifice fly to left.
Maritime scratched back, notching its first hit in the top of the fourth. The Privateers chased starter Chad Johnstone after the rookie had allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in 3.1 innings. Jack Kurtenbach came in to close out the inning as the Violets now trailed 3-1. The rookie right-hander finished with 1.2 scoreless innings.
NYU evened it up in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Privateer fielding error. After a one-out double steal by Walter and McLaughlin, Jake Smith reached on the error -- he was thrown out at second -- and both runners scored on the play to knot it up at 3-3.
The Violets took their second lead of the game in the home half of the sixth when Jonathan Iaione created a run for NYU. The sophomore shortstop reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch.
NYU extended its lead with four runs in the seventh to take an 8-3 advantage. First, Smith scored from second as Colman Hendershot reached on an error and advanced to third. Then, with one out, Michael Vokulich reached on another error and advanced to second. Hendershot scored on the play. CJ Picerni knocked in Iaione with an RBI-single in the following at-bat. Walter closed out the offensive outburst with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Vokulich.
The Violets finished off the night with three more runs in the eighth on RBIs from Iaione, Picerni and Christian Bloom.
"We played some timely defense and got out of some jams," continued Kimbler. "We've changed our luck a little bit over the past few games. It's a good way to set up our weekend heading out to Brandeis."
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Paul Gadaleta picked up the win, his first of the year, with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief. The rookie allowed one hit and three walks.
"We need Paul to step up and throw big innings in relief like he did today," said Kimbler.
- Picerni was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
"It was great to see CJ seeing the ball and hitting it squarely today," Kimbler explained.
- Iaione finished 2-for-3 and scored three runs, was hit by a pitch, stole three bases, and knocked in a run.
- Walter was hit by three pitches and stole three bases.
- Smith was 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.