Box Score

Purchase, NY (Apr. 10, 2012) – Overcast skies and an on-again, off-again light rain was the backdrop for Tuesday afternoon's non-conference matchup with CUNY power Baruch College. The visitors put a dampen on the final score, too, winning 15-6.  

Baruch (13-11), undefeated in the CUNY Conference, scored two runs in the second, a run in the third and four in the fourth, rallying past the Panthers in the middle innings. Backed by a six-run sixth, the Bearcats tacked on eight more runs over the final four innings en route to the win.    

Purchase pitcher Michael Marrone (SR/Pleasantville, NY) got his first start of the spring and started strong on the hill. He allowed only a one-out single in the first inning, striking out cleanup hitter Yancy Torres to close out the frame.

The Panthers (10-17) managed out a two-out single off the bat of Phil Georges (JR/Brooklyn, NY) in the home half of the first, but Baruch starter, Jason Berliner, like Marrone, pitched around the single.    

In the top of the second, after a grounder to shortstop to open the inning, the visitors hit another one-out single. Marrone then allowed his first walk, putting runners on first and second for catcher Thommy DeJesus. DeJesus parked a two-RBI gapper to center for a 2-0 advantage.

Marrone would buckle down and limit the damage in the second to two runs.

The Panther offense went back to work in the bottom of the second, but Berliner started to settle in, tossing another scoreless inning. Baruch tacked on a single run in the third as two walks and a pair of stolen bases keyed the inning for the Bearcats.

Trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third, the Panther bats came alive. An infield error by the visitors got Purchase going. Leadoff batter Michael Sarni (JR/Shelton, CT) followed with a single. A sacrifice fly by Jay Ruiz (FR/Bronx, NY) plated Purchase's first run. Shortly later cleanup hitter Mark Donahue (SR/Brookhaven, NY) delivered a clutch two-out double, plating Sarni. The Panthers weren't done scoring. Purchase's designated hitter Elan Trischitta (FR/Saugerties, NY) singled home Donahue, tying the game at 3-3.

But Baruch rallied for four runs in the fourth, chasing Marrone. Four hits, a walk and a hit batsman highlighted a big inning for the Bearcats. Reliever Christopher Nast (SO/Pound Ridge, NY) came on and stopped the bleeding, striking out Justin Torres.

Nast allowed a single run in the fifth on a solo homer by DH Eric Ulino, increasing the margin to five runs for Baruch.

Following a scoreless bottom of the fifth for Purchase, the Bearcats loaded the bases. Panther head coach Bill Guerrero went to the bullpen and called upon Eric Cuadrado (SR/Yonkers, NY). The right-hander induced a fielder's choice groundout back to the mound for the first out, but struggled with his control. Five hit batsman and pair of wild pitches highlighted a six-run sixth.

Vincent McCarty (FR/Huntington, NY), who closed out the sixth in relief, started strong in the seventh before John Yuksekol homered to left. McCarty navigated around two other base runners as the game rolled into the bottom of the seventh.   

Berliner held the Panthers scoreless from the fourth through the sixth. Baruch head coach then turned to Daniel Monroe in the seventh. Monroe tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth.

Meanwhile, Purchase reliever Michael Moore (JR/Bronx, NY) was a bright spot in the late innings for the Panthers. He worked a scoreless eighth, striking out two in the inning. In the ninth, Panther relievers Lucas Vaz (SO/Astoria, NY) and Isaac Feldman (JR/Holbrook, NY) teamed for a perfect inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, co-captain Will Bernstein* (SR/Staten Island, NY), who entered the game late, singled to get things started. Pinch hitter Blake Jones (FR/Ballston Spa, NY) singled two batters later and the Panthers had a mini rally going. Baruch's Daniel DeRiso, now in the game in relief, wasn't helped much by a pair of errors by his defense as Ruiz and Georges tacked on a pair of RBIs. Purchase would add one more run before the rally came to a close. 

In the win, Baruch was paced by DeJesus, who finished with three hits and three RBI, and leadoff hitter Steve Hession, who added two hits and four RBI. For Purchase, Ruiz led the Panthers with two RBI. He collected one of the team's 10 hits.   

Looking to snap a six-game slide, Purchase returns to action Saturday on Senior Day. The Panthers will resume their conference schedule and welcome rival College of Mt. St. Vincent for a noon doubleheader. Saturday's festivities will also include “DIII Appreciation Day” as part of the NCAA's DIII Student-Athlete Week. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.