The New York University baseball team began its seven-game Spring Break schedule in Florida with a doubleheader against the Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday, May 16, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.
The Violets (10-2) won the opener 11-3 and dropped the second game 15-12.
In the opener, the Scarlet Hawks (3-8 ) plated a run in the top of the first on Michael Paxson's solo home run off NYU starter
Mason Morello.
However, the Violets quickly rebounded with two runs in the bottom of the frame and never relinquished the lead. The rally started with walks to
Harrison Blueweiss and
Nick Argenziano. They both stole a base and were knocked in on a double by
Nate Pallotta.
Argenziano added an RBi single in the second.
Illinois Tech closed within one run in the top of the third, but a two-run sixth featuring back-to-back homers from Pallotta and
Richard Beggy gave NYU a 5-2 lead.
Both teams scored single runs in the seventh before NYU busted the game wide open in the bottom of the eighth on a grand slam from Blueweiss and a solo shot by Argenziano.
Blueweiss finished the game going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, four RBI's, a walk and a stolen base. Pallotta went 3-for-5 with three RBI's, and Argenziano was 2-for-4 with two RBI's, two runs, a walk, and a stolen base.
Morello pickled up the win, going 6.1 innings, allowing two earned runs, six hits and striking out five in picking up his fourth win (4-0) of the season.
Four relievers combined to give up one run and two hits over the final 2.2 innings.
The Violets had an early 3-1 lead in game two, but a seven-run fourth inning for the Scarlet Hawks put them ahead for good.
NYU got within two runs on a pair of occasions, but could not catch up in dropping the high-scoring affair.
Cam Dunn was the Violets' big bopper in the nitecap, smacking a pair of home runs and driving in three with his three hits.
Jack Kelman and
Alex VanLandingham also had three hits and an RBI, with Kelman also drawing a pair of walks. Argenziano contributed another home run and a triple.
NYU starter
Sean Bolin went the first four innings and picked up his first loss (2-1) of the season.
The Violets and Scarlet Hawks will complete their three-game series with a 10:00am game back in Bradenton on Sunday.