The Maritime College baseball team continued their 2021 campaign with a doubleheader split against Manhattanville College.The Privateers earned an 11-3 win in the first game behind a huge day at the plate from first baseman
Phil Russo (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea), who went 3-3 with a double, home run, and four RBIs.
Russo opened up the scoring in game one by bringing home
Eric Wenig (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) with a double to center field. However, the Valiants responded accordingly and ended up taking a 3-1 lead after the conclusion of the third inning.
Keegan McDonald (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) came on in relief in the third inning for Maritime facing runners on second and third with nobody out, but the senior pitcher was able to work his way out of the inning without allowing any more damage. The defensive stand proved to be a turning point for Maritime as they scored 10 unanswered runs to close out the game.
The Privateers tied the game in the top of the fourth inning on a
Phil Russo (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) home run to right field. Then in the fifth inning, Russo drew a walk with the bases loaded and two outs to earn his fourth RBI of the day and give Maritime the 4-3 advantage. The sixth inning saw an explosion of offense for the Privateers as they notched seven runs to help close out the game. McDonald earned the win in relief with four innings pitched, no runs allowed, and just three hits. Wenig and
Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe) also turned in multiple-hit performances at the plate, while freshman
Freddy Forgione (Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) knocked in two runs with an RBI double.
Matt Eng (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) and
Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) both stole two bases in the game.
The second game got off to another sluggish start for the Privateers, but this time they weren't able to stop the bleeding they did in the opening game and found themselves trailing 7-1 after two innings. The offense stepped in the top of the third inning though as they put up four runs to cut the deficit to 7-5. Highlighting the big inning was another two-RBI double from Forgione. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't hold off the Valiants the rest of the way to finish off the comeback attempt and Maritime ultimately fell 12-8.
Gatlin Hines (Elberta, AL/Foley) highlighted the pitching effort for Maritime by throwing 3.2 innings and allowing just one run one two hits. Forgione led the offensive effort by going 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Privateers will face the Valiants again on Sunday at 2 p.m. on Reinhart Field.
