The New York University baseball team picked up a pair of victories over Yeshiva University on Wednesday night, April 15, at MCU Park in Brooklyn.
The Violets (13-18) are now riding a four-game winning streak following their 4-0 victory in game one and the 18-4 win in game two over the Maccabees (0-10).
"You can never complain about two 'W's.' The guys came out a little flat, but we pitched well enough to win both games and that's a huge plus," said NYU Head Coach Doug Kimbler."Tacking on those runs at the end of the second game was just very helpful."Jarret Weiss was on the mound for NYU in game one and picked up his second victory of the season to improve to 2-3. The sophomore tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowed no runs, struck out six and surrendered just two hits.
Matthew Wells and
Matthew Millus threw hitless sixth and seventh innings, respectively, for the Violets to close out the win.
NYU did 75 percent of its scoring in game one in the home half of the first inning, plating three runs.
Christian Bloom led off with an infield single to third before being moved over via a sacrifice bunt from
Adrian Spitz.
CJ Picerni reached on a single to put runners on the corners with no outs and
Jonathan Iaione followed with a double to left for the first run of the game.
Michael Vokulich notched an RBI later in the inning on a sacrifice fly and
Scott Hilbrandt closed out the scoring with an RBI single up the middle.
The Violets put one more across in the bottom of the sixth when
Peter Finch notched an RBI as he reached on a fielders choice.
In game two, NYU poured on the offense late, exploding for 13 runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to the 18-4 victory.
Jacob Bader started the game for the Violets, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out two. Millus entered with two outs in the top of the six to pick up the five-out save for his fifth of the year.
The Violets fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first, but drew even in the home half before scoring another in the bottom of the second to take the 2-1 lead. After the Maccabees knotted it up at 2-2 in the top of the fourth, NYU put three across to take the 5-2 advantage.
"I think Jarret and Jacob pitched really well, especially because we've thrown them into those starting roles about a quarter of the way through the season," continued Kimbler. "I think they've responded really well. Their outings are getting better and better. Their pitch counts are getting lower and lower, so they're throwing strikes, pitching to contact and pitching well."GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:- Bloom finished 2-for-4 with one run and a double.
- Iaione put together a 2-for-3 performance, including one run, an RBI and a double.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:- Billy Griffo notched three RBIs and scored three runs after going 3-for-5 in the nightcap with a double and a stolen base.- Bloom was 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs. He also recorded a sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch.
- Spitz was a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs after entering the game in right field in the top of the sixth for NYU. The sophomore also finished with a double and a stolen base.
"I'm hoping (winning four in a row) gives these guys some confidence," said Kimbler. "I still want to make sure I urge them to come to the ballpark ready to play and to make sure they don't create bad habits for themselves."The Violets will return to action on Saturday, April 18, when they host Bard College for a doubleheader at MCU Park in Brooklyn. First-pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm. NYU and the Raptors will then close out the three-game series with a single game at Bard on Sunday, April 19, at 1:00 pm in Annendale-on-Hudson, NY.
