The Maritime College baseball team came up with a dramatic comeback win in game two of a doubleheader against Plattsburgh State on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Baseball Heaven. After dropping the opening game of the series 17-4, the Privateers came back from a 3-0 deficit in game two to pull out the 5-4 win and split the non-conference doubleheader.

Maritime struggled offensively against the Cardinals ace in the opening game after opening up their season with a sweep the day before against Southern Vermont. Patrick Bryant pitched four scoreless innings for Plattsburgh while only allowing one hit. Once the bullpen entered, the Privateers finally got their offense rolling, but the four-run fifth inning wasn't enough to mount a comeback and they fell 17-4 in the opening game.

With momentum still on the Cardinals side, the Privateers fell behind early once again in the second game as they trailed 3-0 after four innings. With only one hit entering the fifth frame, it appeared the Maritime offense wasn't going to be able to pull it together to prevent the sweep. However, Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and got the rally started. After Sullivan stole second base, Nick McTighe (Merrick, N.Y./Holy Trinity) advance him to third with a single to left field. Eric Wenig (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) was the next batter up for the Privateers and he delivered a clutch single up the middle to put Maritime on the board. Robert Martin (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) then closed the lead to 3-2 by crushing a double down the left field line to score McTighe. After a Ryan Sullivan (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) ground-out RBI tied up the game, sophomore and reigning Skyline Conference First-Team selection Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) stepped up to the plate with two outs and Martin on third base. The Ozone Park, NY native delivered for Maritime by blasting a line-drive home run over the left field fence. The two-run home run gave the Privateers a 5-3 lead heading into the final two innings of play.

Despite the clear momentum shift in favor of Maritime, Plattsburgh wasn't ready to head home yet and started a rally of their own in the top of seventh inning. With men on first and second base and one out, a single up the middle appeared to be a tipping point in favor of the Cardinals, however, a heads-up play by McTighe at third base to keep the tag on after the slide gave the Privateers their second out of the inning. Plattsburgh was still threatening with a men on first and second base when Matthew Paghidas (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) stepped up to the mound for Maritime. Paghidas fooled the runner on second base by attempting a pick-off, but an errant throw that rolled into the outfield allowed the Cardinal runner to reach third base safely and head for home plate to tie the game. Sullivan scrambled after the ball from shortstop and sent a desperate attempt to throw the runner out flying over the catchers head and into the backstop. Luckily, Jake Vera (Plainview, N.Y./Bethpage) played the ball off the backstop and noticed the runner missed home plate on the slide and put the tag on him to seal the dramatic 5-4 victory for the Privateers.

"It definitely wasn't a conventional way to close out a game, but we found a way to win and I'm proud of the team for bouncing back after game one," said head coach Charlie Barbieri. "With the weather we've had this preseason, I couldn't be happier that the team was able to go out there and perform the way they did this weekend. We still have a lot we can improve on, but it feels good to start the season 3-1."

Kevin Dunn (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) got the win in relief for Maritime with two innings pitched, no hits, and no runs allowed. Paghidas picked up the save, while Ryan Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) and Skylar Graff (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) also chipped in solid performances on the mound. 

The Privateers head to NYU next Sunday, March 3 at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader before heading to Florida for spring break, where they will play five games in four days.