Game 1: Farmingdale State - 5, Manhattanville - 4
Game 2: Farmingdale State - 8, Manhattanville - 1
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team opened their 2021 season with a home doubleheader against Manhattanville this afternoon and earned a sweep. The Rams picked up a 5-4 come-from-behind, walkoff victory in game one before cruising to an 8-1 victory in game two. This year, teams play a four-game series with the first three contests conference games. The fourth game will be non-conference.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, FSC used a pair of singles by freshmen Giancarlo Giacometti (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Thomas Secaira (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out. Senior center fielder Vincent Napolitano (Bellmore, N.Y.) batted next and hit a game-tying two-run single to knot the score at 2-2.
The Valiants quickly answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-2 advantage.
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, FSC opened the bottom of the seventh with an Aidan Hutchins (Wading River, N.Y.) double and a Secaira RBI single to close within one at 4-3. Napolitano was hit-by-pitch and a single from sophomore right fielder Bobby Pollock (Manorville, N.Y.) loaded the bases, before freshman Chris Driscoll (Seaford, N.Y.) tied the game with an RBI single.
The next batter, freshman first baseman Jordan Lambert (Plainview, N.Y.), registered a sacrifice fly to score Napolitano and walk it off for the Rams, 5-4.
Secaira finished 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI and run scored, while Hutchins, Pollock and Giacometti had two hits apiece.
Freshman pitcher Christian Esperon (West Islip, N.Y.) (W, 1-0) earned the win after recording four outs without allowing a base runner.
Farmingdale State started quickly in game two as they scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Pollock started the inning with a walk and Giacometti followed with a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt by Lambert, freshman designated hitter Peter Minneci (Shoreham, N.Y.) hit a two-run double off the right field wall to put FSC ahead, 2-0. The Rams later added a run on a Nolan White (Miller Place, N.Y.) RBI single to take a 3-0 advantage.
The Valiants got on the board in the seventh inning with an unearned run to cut their deficit to 3-1.
FSC answered in the bottom of the inning with a Pollock grand slam over the right field wall to take a six-run lead. The Rams added another run on an RBI double to center by Minneci to take a commanding 8-1 advantage.
Pollock led the way for Farmingdale State as he went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Minneci tallied a pair of doubles and drove in three runs, while Giacometti had three hits and scored twice.
Junior Stephen Clancy (Mineola, N.Y.) (W, 1-0) started for Farmingdale State and threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Senior pitcher Joe Marino (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) earned the save after closing the game with three shutout innings, giving up only one hit.
The Rams finish up their four-game set as they travel to play the Valiants tomorrow, Sunday, March 21st at noon.
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