New York University's baseball team earned an 11-3 win against WashU in the final game of the teams' University Athletic Association (UAA) series on Sunday at SIUH Community Park in Staten Island, NY.
The Violets had lost the first three of the four-game set before today's convincing victory to improve to 12-11 on the season and 5-6 in the league.
"The energy was much better from the beginning," said assistant coach
Eddie Medina. "We had met with some of the guys to evaluate what happened in the three prior games...we grinded but just didn't get the big hit. So, collectively trying to figure out how to get that big hit whether it was the approach, situational baseball, all those things that come together to help you win a baseball game."
The big hit came right away for NYU today as
Bruno Damiani stepped up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and hit a three-run double to left as part of the Violets' five-run opening frame.
"Bruno had a great week of practice, showed up every day and made the roster for the weekend," Medina said of the rookie third baseman. "Right before (his double) there was a pitching change and coach Kimbler called Bruno over and said 'if it's on the dish and it's a fastball, attack it.' He wasn't hesitant in the box at all, saw that first-pitch heater...and he crushed it. He did his job, was prepared for that moment and cashed in for us."
Joe Cetale starred on the mound for NYU in picking up his third pitching win of the season, going 6.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on seven hits and just one walk while fanning three.
"The big story of the day is Joe," Medina said. "He's a guy that's come in every single time we've called his number and got the job done well. He's been wanting the ball...he pitched with a chip on his shoulder. He wanted the ball, he got it and he showed up for sure."
Cetale held WashU scoreless for the first six innings while the Violets scored five in the first, one in the third, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth highlighted by a two-run shot over the left field wall off the bat of
Nate Pallotta.
Richard Beggy delivered a sac fly for an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as NYU rolled to a bounce back victory.
Kosta Mocklis,
Ryan Carr,
Nick Argenziano and
Alex VanLandingham had two hits apiece for the Violets.
VanLandingham hit two doubles on the day while Mocklis drove in a pair and
Dakota Barbet added a double as part of 12 hits for NYU's lineup.
Ansel Balmer and
Joseph Augustine both had scoreless outings in relief.
The Violets return to action for another four-game UAA series at home against Case Western Reserve University next weekend. Game one is scheduled for Friday, April 14, at Maimonides Park in Brooklyn beginning at 3:00 p.m.
