Box Score 

Purchase, NY (Apr. 24, 2014) – Purchase baseball bested John Jay 21-3 Thursday afternoon in a non-conference single, nine-inning game. 

Originally slated as a doubleheader, the game was switched to a single game with the postseason nearing. The Panthers improved to 14-10 overall, dropping the Bloodhounds to 4-21.

It was a back-and-forth affair early on before Purchase broke it open in the middle innings. Panther starter Frank Fantino (JR/Nanuet, NY) started strong, retiring the first two batters before allowing a single. An error and a wild pitch advanced the runner to third, but Fantino pitched out of trouble, striking out Nestor Amarante to end the threat.

Purchase jumped on the board immediately. Second baseman Michael Sarni (SR/Shelton, CT) reached on an infield error and then stole second and third. He scored on the steal of third as John Jay starter Michael Wang stepped off and tried to gun down Sarni taking the bag. The ball went down the third-base line, plating Sarni for the game's first run.

John Jay answered back with two runs in the second. A hit batsman coupled with a single and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position before R.J. Davila smashed a single up the middle, scoring two runs. Davila advanced to second on the throw, but Fantino regrouped and got out of the inning, inducing a ground ball for the third out.

The Panthers were held scoreless in the second and then returned the scoreless inning in the top half of the third, highlighted by a nicely turned 6-4-3 double play by shortstop Michael Skoller (SR/East Meadow, NY) to Sarni to first baseman Elan Trischitta (JR/Saugerties, NY).

Sarni walked to start the bottom of the third. Skoller then smashed a deep fly over the left fielder's head for an RBI triple that plated Sarni from second after his third steal of the game. The clutch three bagger by Skoller tied the game at 2-2.

With the game knotted up, Purchase designated hitter Leandro Francisco (SR/Bedford Hills, NY) followed with an RBI single for the go-ahead run.

Now leading, Fantino and the Panthers forged forward, putting together their second consecutive scoreless frame in the fourth.

The hosts returned to scoring in the bottom of the fourth. Right fielder Dan Lombardo (FR/Oceanside, NY) opened with a triple down the line. Left fielder Jonathan Lul (SR/Riverhead, NY) then lined a single up the middle to push the Panther lead to 4-2. Lul stole second base and advanced to third on a perfectly executed bunt single down the third-base line.

With runners on the corners and one out, Sarni stole second base without a throw before Skoller hit a grounder down to first. The first baseman came home, but an errant throw plated Purchase's fifth run. Skoller, who reached on the error, stole second, putting two runners in scoring position. Francisco followed and walked to load the bases. With a careful eye, Trischitta also walked, plating another run as Purchase broke the game open in the fourth.

Panther third baseman Jay Ruiz (JR/Bronx, NY) put the finishing touches on a big inning, smashing another triple – this one cleared the bases and handed Purchase a 9-2 margin. The three-run triple capped a six-run fourth for the Panthers.

Purchase added another run in the fifth on a pair of doubles by Ronald Pressley (FR/Bronx, NY) and Sarni, the latter of which – an RBI by Sarni – plated Pressley from second.

John Jay reliever Michael Fabre took over for Wang, but the pitching change didn't do much to stop the bleeding. Fabre allowed a double to Skoller and then another double to Francisco as two more came around to score. The back-to-back doubles increased the score to 12-2.

In the sixth, reliever Andrew Fingerhut (FR/Smithtown, NY) replaced Fantino on the hill. Fingerhut tossed a scoreless sixth. Christian Knochen (JR/Cornwall, NY) followed with a scoreless seventh.  

The Panthers added two more runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double by pinch hitter Ryan Aponte (FR/Bronx, NY), who batted for Sarni. Purchase tacked on one more run in a three-run sixth and another three in the seventh with head coach Adam Taraska playing many of his younger players as a cast of lineup changes followed.

Purchase capped its scoring with three more runs in the eighth. John Jay scratched across a run in the ninth.

Purchase was paced by Francisco, Skoller and Lombardo, who each recorded three hits apiece, accounting for nine of the team's 16 hits. Francisco led the way with four RBI, while teammates Aponte and Ruiz added three each. Sarni, Lombardo and Lul recorded four runs apiece.

In defeat, the Bloodhounds were led by Noel Sanchez, who went 3 for 4 with two runs in the loss.

Purchase finishes off the regular season this Saturday on Senior Day. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon. Friends and family are encouraged to arrive early for the festivities.