Game 1: Farmingdale State - 3, Keene State - 2 (F/9)
Game 2: Farmingdale State - 2, Keene State - 1 (F/8)
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The FSC baseball team used a pair of walk-off hits to sweep Keene State in a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon. Farmingdale State earned a 3-2 extra-inning victory in game one and followed with a 2-1 extra-inning win in the second game. The Rams are now 2-2 on the year, while the Owls are 0-2.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth of game one, FSC sophomore right fielder Bobby Pollock (Manorville, N.Y.) recorded the game-winning RBI single down the right field line.
The Rams jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a Tony Figliuolo (Glen Cove, N.Y.) sacrifice fly which scored senior Vincent Napolitano (Bellmore, N.Y.).
With bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third, freshman shortstop Nolan White (Miller Place, N.Y.) executed a squeeze bunt which scored Figliuolo and increased the Rams lead to 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, junior first baseman Trent Mayer (Northport, N.Y.) hit a 2-RBI double down the right field line which tied the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Farmingdale State recorded a single but was unable to score as the game headed to extra-innings.
FSC junior pitcher Stephen Clancy (Mineola, N.Y.) held Keene State scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings before Pollock's game-winning hit led the Rams to the 3-2 victory.
Pollock finished 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Figliuolo was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Clancy (1-0) earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit and striking out six.
Senior right fielder Brandon Eaton (Nottingham, N.H.) had a team-high two hits for the Owls.
After a scoreless first three innings in game two, Keene State senior third baseman Joe Barter (Coventry, R.I.) put the Owls ahead 1-0 with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth.
FSC still trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh. Freshman first baseman Richard Apollo Jr. (Seaford, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and freshman pinch hitter Danny Wolf (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed with a single to shortstop. After a Daniel Molina (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out, a Napolitano sac fly scored Apollo Jr. and tied the game at 1-1. Junior pitcher Dean Ruzich (Germantown, N.Y.) registered the final out to send the game into extra-innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Owls were held scoreless after having only one baserunner who had reached on a walk.
Pollock was hit by a pitch in FSC's first at-bat in the bottom of the eighth. After Pollock advanced to second on a wild pitch, freshman left fielder Justin DiMartino (Bethpage, N.Y.) hit the game-winning RBI single to center field to cap off the 2-1 comeback victory.
DiMartino finished the game with two hits and White was 1-for-3 with a double. Sophomore pitcher Thomas Messina (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (1-0) earned the win after throwing four scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Freshman Jordan Lambert (Plainview, N.Y.) started and allowed one run on two hits in four innings of work.
For Keene State, Barter was 1-for-1 at the plate with a solo home run and was walked three times, while Mayer was 1-for-3 with a double.
The Rams next will travel to Florida for the RussMatt Invitational. The Rams will play the first games of their annual spring trip on Friday, March 11th. Farmingdale State will take on Fontbonne at 2:45 p.m. and Salve Regina at 5:45 p.m.
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