The Maritime College baseball team pulled out a come from behind 17-9 win over CCNY on Wednesday night in their "Set the Expectation" game. The Privateers dedicated the game in support of the Set the Expectation organization after the founder, Brenda Tracy, gave a powerful speech to all student-athletes earlier this fall. To learn more about the Set the Expectation organization and their mission towards combating sexual and physical violence through education and direct engagement with coaches, young men, and boys in high school and collegiate athletic programs, CLICK HERE.

After giving up four runs in the top of the second inning, Maritime would trail the Beavers for the entire game until the eighth inning. In the bottom of the third, Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) brought the score within two runs with a two-run home run to right field. Two innings later, Phil Russo (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) smacked a home run of his own over the right field fence to make it a 5-4 lead for CCNY. 

The Beavers went on to extend their lead however, and eventually took a 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. After singles from Nick McTighe (Merrick, N.Y./Holy Trinity) and Matt Eng (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood), the Privateers would go on to tack on two more runs and cut the lead to 9-6 heading to the eighth.

Matthew Paghidas (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) took over on the mound for Maritime and shut down CCNY to keep it a three-run game. The Privateers offense had finally broken through the strong pitching from the Beavers and went on to score 11 runs in the eighth inning on four hits, seven walks, and two hit-by-pitches. The 11-run inning completed the comeback bid for Maritime and marked their 20th win of the season, the fourth time in a row for head coach Charlie Barbieri and the Privateers.

Eric Wenig (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) drew five walks in six at bats for Maritime, while Eng, Russo, McTighe, and Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade) each finished two hits at the plate. Paghidas earned his first win of the season after throwing a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts.

Maritime (20-13, 10-4) has four Skyline Conference games remaining on its schedule with major playoff implications on the line. The Privateers are scheduled to host Farmingdale St. on Saturday at noon for a doubleheader before traveling to Purchase College the following week for their final two games. To check out the full Skyline Conference baseball standings, click here!