Box Score

Old Westbury, NY (May 3, 2014) – Undeterred by a Friday night defeat in the conference tournament opener, Purchase will advance on semifinal Saturday following a season-saving 10-2 victory over No. 4 St. Joseph's College-LI at the Jackie Robinson Athletic Complex.

The second-seeded Panthers will now face No. 1 Old Westbury at 5 p.m. in the Skyline Conference second semifinal matchup. The winner will advance to championship Sunday. Reigning champion Farmingdale State, who won the early game on Saturday against OW and defeated Purchase in the night game Friday night, also advanced to championship Sunday, where it will face the winner of tonight's 5 p.m. game.    

Starter Chris Nast (JR/Pound Ridge, NY) navigated around some minor trouble in the first, striking out the final batter with two runners on after allowing a walk and a hit batsman. Nonetheless, the lefty looked sharp, not surrendering a hit in the frame.  

In the top of the second, an infield single by Teofilo Ramirez (SO/Queens, NY) plated Purchase's first run. Panther catcher John Jonas (SR/Goshen, NY), who also singled in the second and advanced around the bases with two outs, scored on Ramirez' single to second base.

With a one-run lead, Nast returned to the hill and hurled his second consecutive hitless and scoreless frame, stranding another runner in scoring position.

In the bottom half of the inning, aided by a walk and an infield error, Purchase put runners on the corners with no outs. Shortstop Michael Skoller (SR/East Meadow, NY) grounded out to second base, plating Aryn Giddens (SR/Queens, NY). The RBI groundout handed the guests a 2-0 advantage.

Elan Trischitta (JR/Saugerties, NY) ribbed a two-out single up the middle to push the lead to 3-0. A second error by the Golden Eagles would advance two more runners into scoring position. Then, Jonas doubled in two more for a quick 5-0 lead.

Left fielder Jay Ruiz (JR/Bronx, NY) continued the offensive attack with an RBI single as the lineup turned over. The five-run inning knocked SJC-LI starter Glen Patriss from the game.

Purchase capped the inning on a two-RBI single by second baseman Michael Sarni (SR/Shelton, CT) for a commanding 8-0 lead.

Purchase added two additional insurance runs in the fourth as the Panthers ran away with the game.

Nast took a no-hitter into the fifth, when he allowed a single. In that inning, SJC-LI scratched across two runs. The ace settled in and finished the day by going six strong innings, allowing two earned runs, walking four and striking out four en route to the win. Nast improved to 6-1 in the victory.  

Purchase reliever Jacob Vazquez (FR/Cortlandt Manor, NY) came in and finished off the game with three scoreless innings of work. The lefty picked up where Nast left off and allowed only one hit.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by Ruiz and Ramirez, who each recorded three hits apiece. Trischitta, Francisco and Jonas each added two hits. Ramirez, Ruiz, Sarni and Jonas also collected two RBIs apiece, accounting for eight of the 10 on the afternoon.

Patriss took the loss and fell to 3-4. The Golden Eagles, who were eliminated in the loss, were paced by catcher Mike Aloisio. He went 1 for 4 with two RBI.

As a backdrop to the win, Sarni collected the 100th stolen base of his Panther career. The standout second baseman, who notched his 100th career hit earlier this season, now has a second milestone to his credit in his senior campaign. 

By winning Saturday's first game, the Panthers have now gone the furthest in program history. They are one win away from the championship series.