The New York University baseball team played its first home games of the 2015 season on Saturday, March 28. The Violets, who are competing at the NCAA varsity level for the first time since 1974, had not played a home game since 1973.
On Saturday, the Violets were swept by Brandeis University 4-2 and 11-8 at NYU's new home field, MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.
Chase Denison started the first game for the Violets (5-11) and went the full seven innings. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four. He was done in by a three-run third inning where he allowed four of those hits.
The Violets' offense was limited to single runs in the third and seventh innings knocked in by
Michael Vokulich and
Christian Bloom.
"Chase pitched well enough to win," said Head Coach
Doug Kimbler."When pitchers pitch well enough to win, you've got to win those games."
In the second game, offense was not a problem for either team.
The Violets fell behind 6-1, went ahead 7-6, fell behind 8-7, and then tied the game before a another three-run inning by the Judges, this time the sixth, gave Brandeis (6-10) the victory.
Vokulich started the second game and allowed only one earned run over four innings, but the defense gave up five unearned runs during that span. Billy Griffo and Christian Pellegrino each knocked in two runs during the Violets' comeback attempt."We had opportunities to win both games and we didn't," Kimbler said. "We didn't pitch well enough, we didn't hit well enough and we didn't play good defense. I expect we're going to find out more about ourselves as we move forward."
Game One Highlights:- Vokulich had three hits and a stolen base.
- Bloom and
CJ Picerni each had two hits.
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Adrian Spitz scored both runs and had two stolen bases.
Game Two Highlights:-,Spitz added another stolen base and run scored.
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- Griffo, Denison and
Jonathan Iaione each had two hits.
- Eight different players scored NYU's eight runs.
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Marshall Kramsky recorded a perfect inning of relief, striking out one.
"Playing at a great facility like MCU Park, when you step on the field it has to get your juices flowing," Kimbler explained. "We're just looking for a little more fire in the belly and getting these guys going."
The Violets will get another chance to win their first game at MCU Park when they host Brandeis again tomorrow for a single game starting at 12:00 pm.,
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