THROGGS NECK, NY – On Saturday afternoon, the Maritime College baseball team played its final home doubleheader of the season.  After taking the opener by a 3-1 count, the Privateers (22-15, 13-5 Skyline) dropped a 5-2 decision to Mount St. Mary (20-15-1, 13-5 Skyline) in the second game at Reinhart Baseball Field.

Maritime honored its 10-member senior class before Game 1, then took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when David Granucci (Medford, NY) doubled and John Spallin (Holmdel, NJ) followed with a home run to right center.  The Knights plated one in the third on Chris Calvario's RBI double before threatening again in the fifth, putting runners on first and third with one out.  Matt Demme (Carmel, NY) got out of the jam, however, on a strikeout and a popup.  After the Privateers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, Alex Bardi (Wantagh, NY) drew a walk to give Maritime an insurance tally. 

Demme came back out for the seventh with the Privateers still holding a 3-1 lead and struck out the first two Mount St. Mary hitters.  The next batter, Frank Signorelli walked, bringing up the tying run.  Demme (5-3) induced a Calvario ground ball, though, to finish off the complete game win.  He struck out five and walked four while holding the Knights to one run on four hits.

Mount St. Mary starter Liam Horan (3-2) also tossed a complete game.  He allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

In Game 2, Maritime put up a run in the bottom of the first.  Bardi reached on an infield single, stole second, and scored on Harry Leipold's (Thornwood, NJ) base hit to center.  The Knights responded with a two-spot in the top of the second, then made it 3-1 on a Calvario homer in the fifth.

After Spallin singled with two out in the sixth, Ventura followed with a single to left.  Spallin was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play, however, ending the inning.  Mount St. Mary added a run in the top of the seventh before the Privateers pulled within 4-2 on Bardi's RBI double in the bottom half of the inning.

The Knights increased their advantage to 5-2 on Christian Parisa's leadoff homer in the ninth, then Joseph Moratori struck out the first two Maritime hitters in the bottom half of the inning.  The Privateers stayed alive on back-to-back singles by Bardi and Michael Frazzetta (Howard Beach, NY), but Leipold went down swinging to end the contest.

As a team, Maritime outhit Mount St. Mary 14-7 in the game.  However, 12 of those hits were singles and the Privateers left 11 runners on base.  Spallin went 4-for-4 at the plate, while Bardi was 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI.  Ventura reached base four times, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks.  Goodman also had a pair of hits.

Andrew Heiderstadt (Farmingdale, NY) (5-2) started on the mound and lasted six innings.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, walked seven and struck out one.  Jack Kellner (Seaford, NY) pitched the final three innings, yielding one run on one hit while issuing two walks.

For the Knights, Calvario ended up 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI.  Adam Leone also notched a pair of hits and scored a run, while Adam Marshall walked four times.  He added a single and a run scored. 

Starting pitcher Peter Pappalardo (4-1) lasted seven innings, surrendering two runs on 11 hits, striking out two and issuing three walks.  Moratori earned his first save of the season after tossing two shutout innings.  He allowed three hits and a walk while tallying four strikeouts.

With the Game 2 loss, Maritime was eliminated from contention for the No. 1 seed in the Skyline Tournament.  The Privateers will be seeded anywhere between second and fifth, depending on the results of Sunday's games.  Maritime wraps up the regular season by visiting Merchant Marine (24-13, 14-4 Skyline) for a 10 a.m. twinbill on Sunday.