The Maritime College baseball team was in action on Saturday afternoon as they visited USMMA to face off in a pivotal Skyline Conference doubleheader. The Privateers split the series with the Mariners, as the Privateers improve to 17-13 on the season, and 8-4 in Skyline Conference games. The Privateers afternoon was highlighted by a highly contested victory in the first game of the series. Slugger Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) hit a homerun in both games, to add his team-best fourth, and fifth homers of the season. In the first game, coach Charlie Barbieri recorded his 100^th win as the Privateers head coach. Barbieri is coming off of two of the Privateers best seasons in program history, including a 2017 Skyline Conference tittle.
 
In game one of the two-game set, Maritime defeated the Mariners by a score 6-3 to hand USMMA just their second Skyline Conference loss of the season.  On the mound, the Privateers turned to senior A.J. Ammirati (Queens, N.Y./Construction) who was able to control the Mariners offense and keep them off the board for most of the game. In six innings, the senior gave up just two runs and added four strikeouts. Against 28 Mariners, Ammirati only trailed once throughout the game, and would improve to 2-2 on the season. On offense, the Privateers lineup would reach base 15 times, which bested the Mariners, who reached base 11 times. The Privateers nine hits were showcased by a 4-for-5 afternoon from Phil Russo (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea). Along with contributing two RBI's, Russo added a double. Batting cleanup, Zurita went 2-for-4 with a homerun, a triple and three RBIs.
 
The Privateers scored their first two runs of the game in the third inning. Trailing 2-0, Zurita knotted up the score as he tripled to center field to score Russo and Nick McTighe (Merrick, N.Y./Holy Trinity). In the fourth inning, Maritime would take the 3-2 lead as Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe) reached home on an Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) sacrifice fly. The Privateers were not done yet, as they extended their lead in the fifth inning via a Zurita solo home run to left center. Following a USMMA score, Maritime took a 4-3 lead to the final frame. To lead off the ninth, Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) singled for his first hit of the game. Following a sac bunt by Mctighe, then a wild pitch, Mosca moved to third with Matt Eng (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) up. With one out, Matt Eng (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) would reach base on a hit-by-pitch. On first, Eng stole second base to set up Russo with runners in scoring position. With two runners on, Russo added an exclamation point to the inning, as he doubled to left field to give the Privateers the 6-3 advantage. To seal the game, Matthew Paghidas (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) concluded his 3.0 inning effort, as he struck out one Mariner, and surrendered zero hits, to give the Privateers the win. 
 
In game two of the series, the Privateers gave the start to freshman Niko Concha (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga). In 4.0 innings of play, Concha allowed one run, gave up two hits, and struck out four batters. With the 3-2 defeat, Concha falls to 3-2 on the season. In relief, Alex Poliwoda (Southold, N.Y./Southold) pitched 2.0 innings and struck out three batters, while not giving up a run. On offense, the Privateers were led by Zuritas fourth inning solo shot to left center. Russo and Zurita both tallied two hits in the loss.
 
Trailing 3-1 in the final frame, the Privateers refused to go down quietly. With two outs and a runner on second base, Matt Eng (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) extended the contest as he singled through the life side, to put the Privateers down one run. With runners on first and second, Maritime could not complete the comeback as they fell to the Mariners by a score of 3-2.
 
The Privateers return to the diamond tomorrow as the face Yeshiva in a doubleheader, beginning at 12:00 pm on Reinhart Field.