PURCHASE, N.Y. – Purchase College fell to the College of Mount Saint Vincent, 9-2, in a non-conference tilt between the two Skyline Conference teams Wednesday night.
After three scoreless innings, Mount Saint Vincent (16-11) grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth on an Isidoros Bartziokas RBI triple down the right field line.
Purchase (10-12) attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the frame. With runners on the corners and no outs, a Dolphin pitching change was made. The call proved to be a timely one as reliever Chris Mantione dismissed the next three batters in order to preserve the scoreless edge.
A similar situation played out in the top of the fifth as multiple Dolphins got on base to force a Panther pitching change. With runners at first and third, the difference maker for Mount came as a wild pitch that allowed Jason Albert to score. A second trip to Purchase's bullpen didn't deter the visitors as they knocked in another run to jump ahead, 3-0.
MSV's bats came alive again in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on six hits and one Purchase error.
Trailing 8-0, Purchase fired back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs on the board,
Drew Stabinsky (SO/Floral Park, NY) snapped the skid after taking a pitch to his side. He later advanced to third on a pitching error and broke the scoring ice for Purchase after
Vincent Padula (SO/Cape Coral, FL.) smacked a 2-RBI double to left center.
Joe Ferreri (SO/Commack, NY) scored on the same play.
Mason Compton (FR/Carmel, NY) took the mound to start the seventh inning. He gave up a hit against the leadoff hitter but dismissed the next three batters for the scoreless frame.
The pitching duel between Purchase and Mount Saint Vincent continued in the bottom of the seventh as Dolphin reliever Humberto Vela retired Purchase 1-2-3 in the frame.
The visitors held the Panthers scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and outscored them 1-0 in the ninth to secure the 9-2 victory.
Max Benbenisti (1-0) earned the win for Mount. The sophomore right-hander limited Purchase to four hits over three scoreless innings.
Purchase starter
Cass Muller (0-1) picked up his first loss of the season after giving up three runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts, over four innings of work.
Up Next
The Panthers return to Skyline play this Saturday for a noon doubleheader hosted by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.