Farmingdale State - 9, Stevens - 2
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Farmingdale State senior pitcher Matthew Constantine (West Babylon, N.Y.) improved to 7-1 on the season after tossing 4.2 scoreless innings of relief in FSC's 9-2 defeat of Stevens this afternoon. With the win, the Rams improved to 27-7 overall, while the Ducks dropped to 14-18.
After loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, FSC used an RBI groundout from sophomore catcher Michael Amandola (North Babylon, N.Y.) before a run-scoring single by sophomore designated hitter Ryan DePalma (Albertson, N.Y.) to put the Rams in front, 2-0. Farmingdale State added a run on a wild pitch during the next at-bat as they took a 3-0 advantage after one inning of play.
The Ducks threatened in the top of the second when they loaded the bases with no one out. After junior Anthony Visconte (East Islip, N.Y.) struck out the next batter looking, Constantine entered the game and forced a 6-4-3 double play on his first pitch to escape the jam.
Still leading 3-0 in the fourth, Rams' senior shortstop Shawn Blasberg (Sound Beach, N.Y.) led off with a triple down the right field line and was driven in on a bunt single by junior second baseman Tyler Schrimpf (Miller Place, N.Y.). After junior left fielder Nick Attardi (Smithtown, N.Y.) hit a double to left field, junior center fielder Vincent Napolitano (Bellmore, N.Y.) tallied a sacrifice fly to drive in Schrimpf and give Farmingdale State a five-run lead. The next batter, junior first baseman Steven Burke (North Babylon, N.Y.), drove in Attardi with an RBI single to center to put FSC on top, 6-0.
Farmingdale State plated a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Blasberg and added a pair of unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
Stevens registered a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning but FSC held on for the 9-2 victory.
Amandola led the way offensively for Farmingdale State as he was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Blasberg and junior right fielder Vincent Rice (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) each went 2-for-4, while Napolitano tallied a hit, two walks, one RBI and two runs scored. Burke, who pitched two scoreless innings on the mound, and Schrimpf each had one hit, an RBI and one run scored apiece in the win.
As Constantine recorded his team-leading seventh win, he lowered his ERA to 1.91 on the year.
For the Ducks, freshman center fielder Ryan Finegan (Cumming, Ga.) recorded two hits, including a two-run double.
The Rams next host Skyline opponent Mount Saint Vincent for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27th starting at noon on senior day.
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