THROGGS NECK, NY – On Tuesday night, the Maritime College baseball team began its home schedule with a matchup against Ramapo. The Privateers (0-6) scored three runs in the first inning, but ultimately fell to the Roadrunners (6-1) by a 6-3 margin at Reinhart Baseball Field.
After
Sean Mylan (Lynbrook, NY) struck out the side in the top of the first, six of Maritime's first eight batters reached base in the bottom half of the inning.
Chris Picarella (Levittown, NY),
David Granucci (Medford, NY) and
Randy Ventura (Syosset, NY) all drew bases loaded walks, giving the Privateers a 3-0 lead. However, Ramapo responded with a five-spot in the top of the second. Braden Schappert's grand slam to left center was the big blow in the inning that put the Roadrunners up 5-3.
Ramapo increased its advantage to 6-3 on a leadoff homer by Jack Tallent in the sixth. That would prove to be all the offense Michael Zalinkanskas needed. He entered after Ventura's walk in the first and tossed 6.1 shutout innings. A Granucci infield single in the bottom of the fifth was the only hit Zalinkanskas allowed, and just two Maritime baserunners reached third after the first inning.
Singles by
Alex Bardi (Wantagh, NY) in the first and Ventura in the eighth were the only other Privateer hits in the contest. Granucci and Ventura both went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Bardi finished 1-for-4 with a run scored. Mylan (0-2) took the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and a walk over five innings.
Luke Martinez (Mineola, NY) struck out eight in four innings of relief. He gave up just one hit and didn't issue a walk.
For the Roadrunners, Tallent was 2-for-4 with a home run, while Dan Maglio also had two hits and a run scored. Schappert ended up 1-for-3 with a grand slam. Starting pitcher Will Kennedy didn't get out of the first. He was charged with three runs on one hit and five walks and struck out two in 0.2 innings. Zalinkanskas (2-0) earned the win after tallying 11 strikeouts and walking four. Thomas Schlaline, meanwhile, allowed one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings to pick up the save. He notched six of the 19 strikeouts recorded by Ramapo pitching.
Maritime returns to action with a 10 a.m. doubleheader against Baruch (0-4) on Saturday. The twinbill will be played at Reinhart Baseball Field, with the Bearcats serving as the home team.
