The New York University baseball team dropped a pair of contests to Centenary College in a home nine-inning, seven-inning doubleheader on Wednesday, March 23, at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY. The Cyclones defeated the Violets 5-3 in game one, followed by an 7-2 defeat in the nightcap.
Game one saw NYU (4-12) and starter
Cameron Serapilio-Frank hold the Cyclones (7-6) to just two hits and no runs over the first six innings. At that point, the Violets held a 2-0 lead after scoring one run in the bottom of the second and fifth innings.
NYU's first run came with the bases loaded and two outs.
Christopher Ma drew the walk to force in
Jonathan Iaione from third for his first-ever RBI as a Violet. Then, in the bottom of the fifth with one out and a runner on third,
Jake Smith sent a high chopper just over the Centenary third baseman's glove. After reading the play well,
Ryan McLaughlin was able to easily trot home from third.
"Cam pitched well, but our defense and errors were hustle mistakes," said NYU Head Coach
Doug Kimbler. "Ma played well in the first game and he was very prepared for the opporunities he had."
Unfortunately, the Cyclones' offense kicked in during the top of the seventh inning. Centenary scored four runs on three hits. Serapilio-Frank limited the Cyclones to one run at the two-out mark, but proceeded to load the bases. A pair of relievers came in for NYU, but Centenary scored three more runs before inning's end.
Serapilio-Frank's final line was 6.2 innings pitched with four earned runs, four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
NYU was able to get another run across to cut the defecit to one at 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and runners on first and second,
Christian Bloom singled down the left field line to plate
Scott Hilbrandt from second. Bloom rounded first a bit too hard though, and was called out 7-6-3 trying to get back to first. Centenary scored one more in the top of the ninth for the final 5-3 score.
Michael Vokulich did not fair as well as his classmate in game two. The sophomore tossed 4.0 innings and gave up three hits, six runs (three earned), one walk, one wild pitch, one hit batsman, and three strikeouts.
Centenary put up two in the top of the first, both earned, and then knocked in another four in the road half of the fourth -- all unearned runs. The Cyclones scored once again in the top of the sixth, but the Violets were able to score a pair of runs thanks to a slew of Centenary errors (4) in the home half.
CJ Picerni grounded out to second for the RBI as
Jack Walter scored from third. Then, with two outs in the following at-bat, Hilbrandt reached safely on error by the Centenary second baseman and McLaughlin was able to score, as well.
"It takes one guy to step up in a big moment and win in that big at-bat," continued Kimbler. "We are losing those pivotal moments, but it only takes one."
NYU will return to the field on Friday morning, March 25, for a doubleheader at MCU Park againsst Yeshiva University. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 am.
