Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Purchase, NY (Apr. 21, 2013) – A day after narrowly falling to Farmingdale State in the program's first conference losses of the season, Purchase baseball went right back to work and reeled off two more league wins to roll to 12-2 in Skyline Conference play.

As a backdrop, Sunday afternoon at the ballpark was also Senior Day, as the Panthers hosted Yeshiva University in their final regular season home doubleheader. Purchase, which notched its 20th win of the season by the end of the day, is now 20-13 overall and has locked up no worse than a three-seed in the upcoming baseball postseason tournament.

The Panthers are currently second in the league standings with three games to play (single game against Ramapo and a doubleheader against Old Westbury). If they clinch the No. 2 seed, Purchase will have a first-round bye in the league tournament. The semis and the finals are hosted by the top seed (FSC).

Sunday was a day of celebration. Head coach Bill Guerrero highlighted a doubleheader sweep, recognizing 11 seniors between games. Surrounded by family and friends behind home plate, Guerrero delivered touching speeches about each of the 11 individuals, all of which have been cornerstones in the program's quick rise to league power, contending for a conference crown in 2013.

Seniors Miller Lulow*, Kevin McQuade, Daniel Stroud, Frank Fiumara*, Phil Georges, Gary Riefenhauser, Michael Moore, Josh Spielberg, Colin Morris, Matt Paz* and Isaac Feldman were all serenaded with words of praise from coach Guerrero, who said he was sad to see them go, but acknowledged that there is still plenty left to be done, most notably two more regular-season games against Old Westbury and then the upcoming postseason, which could very well lead to an NCAA Tournament berth if the Panthers can win the Skyline tourney. The league has an automatic qualifier for NCAAs.

Sunday also welcomed back many alumni on Senior Day, including YU's coaching staff. Former Panther pitching ace Albert Baez, now the head coach of the Maccabees, appointed two of his former Purchase teammates to his coaching staff (Josh Leon, Dalwin Garcia).

The festive homecoming played host to a pair of productive games for the Panthers. Purchase scored early and often in the seven-inning, run-rule opener, tossing up a four spot in the first, a single run in the second and then five more in the third for a 10-0 lead after three. The Panthers tacked on five more runs over the next three frames for a convincing 15-0 win.

Both on the hill and at the plate, McQuade (SR/Mamaroneck, NY) led the way with three hits and two RBI in game one. Teammates Morris (SR/Bridgeport, CT), Spielberg (SR/Oceanside, NY) and Georges (SR/Brooklyn, NY) added two hits apiece. Stroud (SR/Nyack, NY), Robert Robles (SO/Bronx, NY) and Spielberg all recorded two RBI apiece.  McQuade two-hit YU over five innings for the win. Fellow seniors Feldman and Riefenhauser pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh to close out the game.

Purchase totaled 19 hits in game two and skated to a 14-5 final. NCAA stolen base leader Michael Sarni (SR/Shelton, CT) went 4 for 4 with two runs and one RBI, spearheading the charge from the leadoff spot. Justin Sherman (SR/New Rochelle, NY), who like Sarni will return next year, added two hits and three RBI.

Red-hot slugger Ronald Echavarria (SR/Bronx, NY) homered early as Purchase started and finished strong. The Panthers scored eight runs through the first three and six more over the final three, posting at least one run per inning. YU managed a single run in the fifth and two in the sixth and seventh, recording eight hits and playing better in game two than it had in the opener. 

Spielberg added three more hits in game two, while McQuade and John Duffy (JR/Staten Island, NY) also notched two hits apiece in the overwhelming win.

Meanwhile, rubber-armed starter Lulow (SR/New York, NY) kept rolling on the mound. The game-two starter went five innings, allowed three hits and no earned runs en route to another victory. He is 5-0 this season.

Purchase capped the afternoon with a postgame celebration and barbeque as families and friends enjoyed an early dinner with the team.

Up next, the Panthers return to action on the road against Ramapo.