Game 1: UMass-Dartmouth - 4, Farmingdale State - 2
Game 2: UMass-Dartmouth - 4, Farmingdale State - 1 (7-innings)
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team kicked off their 2022 season with a doubleheader against the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth this afternoon and fell in both games. The Corsairs won the first game by a score of 4-2 and followed with a 4-1 victory in game two to sweep the doubleheader.
UMass (1-1) jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning of game one on an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Jared Neikam (Bedford, N.H.).
FSC responded in the bottom on the inning as senior center fielder Vincent Napolitano (Bellmore, N.Y.) led off with a single, stole second base and scored on a single by sophomore right fielder Bobby Pollock (Manorville, N.Y.).
After Pollock recorded a stolen base, freshman first baseman Jordan Lambert (Plainview, N.Y.) tallied an RBI single to put the Rams on top, 2-1.
The game remained 2-1 until the top of the fifth inning, when Dartmouth tied the score on an RBI groundout by sophomore shortstop Andrew Possi (Milton, Mass.). The next batter, junior left fielder Andrew Bryant (Canton, Mass.), hit a solo homerun over the right field wall to put the Corsairs in front, 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Pollock led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but was thrown out at home attempting to score on a groundout in the next at-bat.
The Rams were held to just two hits over the final three innings as UMass-Dartmouth earned the 4-2 victory.
Pollock finished 2-for-2 with a double, walk, run scored and RBI, while junior left fielder Michael Iacobellis (Seaford, N.Y.) and freshman designated hitter Louis Annunziata (Howard Beach, N.Y.) had two hits apiece.
FSC senior Joe Marino (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) tossed 3.2 innings in relief allowing just one run with eight strikeouts.
For UMass, Ryan Brunning (Centerville, Mass.) (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, W, 1-0) and Chase Stafford (Somerset, Mass.) (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, Sv) held the Rams to just two runs in the win.
Farmingdale State trailed 2-0 in the third inning of the second game and used a single by freshman first baseman Richard Apollo Jr. (Seaford, N.Y.) and an RBI double by Napolitano to cut their deficit to 2-1.
The Rams threatened with two on and two out in the bottom of the fourth, but Corsair junior Ryan Qualey (Woburn, Mass.) recorded a strikeout to escape the jam.
In the top of the fifth, Bryant hit a two-run home run, his second of the day, to put UMass-Dartmouth ahead, 4-1. The Rams put runners on first and third in the bottom half of the inning but were unable to push a run across as Qualey forced a flyout.
Corsair senior Mike Sollitto (North Providence, R.I.) (Sv, 1) allowed just one hit over the final two innings as he clinched the 4-1 game two win and picked up the save.
Napolitano had one hit with a double and an RBI, while freshman third baseman Patrick Dallas (Patchogue, N.Y.) notched a pair of singles. Lambert and Annunziata each had one hit in the loss.
FSC freshman Christian Esperon (West Islip, N.Y.) pitched two innings of scoreless ball in relief with three strikeouts.
Bryant led the way for the Corsairs as he went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI's.
Qualey (W, 1-0) earned the win after tossing five innings and allowing just one run with eight strikeouts.
FSC next will host Keene State for a 7-inning doubleheader on Saturday, March 5th at noon.
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