The Maritime College baseball split a doubleheader at Purchase College on Saturday afternoon, but their win came in dramatic fashion behind a sixth-inning comeback in the opening game. The Privateers took game one by a score of 4-2, but fell in the second game 3-2.
Maritime got off to a quick start in the opening game as
Matt Eng (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) helped manufacture a run by leading off with a single, stealing second base, and eventually scoring after
Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, NY/Poly Prep) drew a throw to second base before getting caught stealing. Unfortunately, the Panthers were quick to respond and then take the lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the first and second inning.
Maritime threatened to score in the fifth inning after a double from
Ryan Rockhill (Eastchester, NY/Tuckahoe), but ended up stranding two runners on base. The Privateers weren't going to let the opportunity to take back the lead go away again and in the top of the sixth inning they made their move.
Freddy Forgione (Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) got the rally going by reaching on an error and then stealing second, followed by a two-out walk from
Eric Wenig (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley). Then
Austen Bishop (Millersville, MD/Archbishop Spalding) cleared the bases with a double to left center and Maritime took a 3-2 lead. Looking to add some insurance runs, Rockhill stepped up to the plate and drove in Bishop with a triple. The 4-2 lead proved to be enough for the Privateers as
Nick Mateyunas (Northport NY, Northport/) and
Matthew Paghidas (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) closed out the game, with Paghidas throwing the final three outs and earning the save.
Ryan Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) earned the win on the mound by throwing five full innings and allowing just three hits and two runs. Offensively, Rockhill went 3-3 with a single, double, and triple, while Eng and
Phil Russo (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) chipped in two hits each.
Maritime scored in the top of the first in the second game as well, this time off the bat of
Adam Mosca (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) who drilled a home run over the left field fence. Unfortunately, the Panthers were able to answer right away again in the bottom half and then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. The Privateers were looking for some late game heroics again as Forgione tied the game with a home run in the top of the seventh. Maritime continued to threaten to score in the seventh but ultimately stranded two runners on base. Purchase went to win with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
John Ohanian (Bellmore, NY/Bellmore JFK) and
Joe Ragone (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) each threw three innings and allowed one run, while Gaitlin Hines allowed the other run on 2.1 innings pitched. Maritime will face off against Purchase in another doubleheader on Sunday at noon on Reinhart Field. The game will be live streamed on our
YouTube channel here!
