Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team defeated Ithaca, 2-0, this evening to remain undefeated in the NCAA Division III Farmingdale Baseball Regional. The Rams (31-10) will play #1 Cortland State tomorrow at Noon and Ithaca (28-9-1) will take on #6 Castleton State at 3:30 p.m.
Farmingdale State junior first baseman Ron Remi (Massapequa, N.Y.) led off the top of the fifth inning with a single to shortstop and was advanced to second on a David Zilnicki (Riverhead, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt. An infield single by sophomore Edward Bergmann (East Meadow, N.Y.) put runners on the corners for the Rams with no outs. Freshman second baseman Thomas Rydzewski (Franklin Square, N.Y.) recorded an RBI groundout on Farmingdale State's next at-bat which gave the Rams a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ithaca loaded the bases with no outs before a double play left runners on second and third. Senior pitcher C.J. Bula (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) forced a fly out to right field to end the threat and secure a 1-0 advantage for Farmingdale State.
In the seventh, Remi reached base on a bunt to the third baseman and later stole second. After a balk advanced Remi to third, a two out RBI single to shortstop by sophomore center fielder Edward Bergmann (East Meadown, N.Y.) increased the Rams lead to 2-0.
Ithaca stranded two on base in the eighth and led off with a single by sophomore third baseman Colby Gee (Freeville, N.Y.) in the ninth inning. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, a V Gneo single to left moved the runner to third. Another wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Ithaca, before freshman closer Michael Santagata (Brentwood, N.Y.) struck out the final two batters for his fifth save of the season.
The Rams were led by Remi, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Bergmann was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Bula improved to 8-3 on the year after throwing five shutout innings allowing only two hits and striking out three. Junior pitcher Anthony Eilers (Bay Shore, N.Y.) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Ithaca's freshman pitcher John Prendergast (Clifton Park, N.Y.) recorded his first loss of the season (8-1) after throwing a complete game allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out seven.
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