The Maritime College baseball team left it all on the field Wednesday night in the first round of the Skyline Conference playoffs and ended up walking off for a 10-9 win over St. Joseph's College Long Island. After an Eric Wenig (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) single drove in the game-tying run, Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade) drew a four-pitch walk to bring home Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) from third base to seal the win for the Privateers.

The game got off to a shaky start for Maritime as the visiting Golden Eagles posted four runs in the first two innings and held full control of the momentum. However, after Matthew Paghidas (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) entered the game and slowed the offensive attack from St. Joseph's, Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe) got the comeback started for the Privateers with a long home run to deep centerfield in the bottom of the third. In the following inning, Maritime cut into the lead once again, this time off a throwing error caused by a good breakup slide from Wenig into second base, which scored Joe Scerra (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) from third. The steady comeback continued for Maritime as a bases loaded walk from Mosca brought in another run to cut the advantage to 4-3 for the Golden Eagles.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, St. Joseph's found their stride on offense once again as they hit a three-run homer to right field to regain a four-run lead. Needing to stay in the game, Rockhill delivered another clutch hit into right field, which scored Wenig from second base. Two batters later, Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade) stole second base and forced a throwing error from the catcher that allowed Rockhill to score from third base and close the gap to 7-5. With the bases loaded, Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) stepped to the plate and hit a hard fly ball to right center field, which ended up being caught on the warning track to end the rally for Maritime.

The Golden Eagles were able to add to their lead once again in the eighth inning and take an 8-5 lead with six outs remaining for the Privateers. After Joe Scerra (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) battled at the plate for 10 pitches and drew a walk, Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) hit a two-run home run over the right field fence to make it a one-run game at 8-7. Wenig then followed it up and made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot to right center that evened the score for the first time in the game. 

With the game knotted up at eight, Maritime wasn't able to keep St. Joseph's off the scoreboard in the ninth inning as the Golden Eagles took a 9-8 lead into the final three outs. 

Zurita opened up the final inning with a line drive down the left field line for a double. After an infield pop-up, Scerra once again found his way on base after getting hit by a pitch. Mosca then singled to shortstop as Zurita beat out a throw to third base to load the bases. Wenig tied the score at nine with a big single to right field and brought up Rockhill with the bases loaded and one out. Unfortunately, Rockhill hammered a ground ball right to the shortstop and the Golden Eagles were able to record their second out at home plate. Sullivan then stepped up to the plate and drew a four-pitch walk-off walk to win the game for the Privateers and advance them to the next round of the Skyline Conference playoffs. 

Maritime will travel to Farmingdale St. on Friday, May 3 to take on the Rams at 4 p.m. Tickets will be $5 for adults, free for children under 12 and students with ID. Check out post-game press conferences from both teams below!