PURCHASE, N.Y. - Just because it was Senior Day didn't mean that the first-years couldn't get in on the fun too!

And that is exactly what Frank Rega (FR/West Islip, NY) did Tuesday night, as the rookie catcher smacked a walk-off RBI-single down the left field line to send the Purchase College baseball team home with doubleheader split against Maritime College.

With Rega's hit, the Panthers took game two by the score of 9-8. Earlier in the day, the Privateers bested Purchase in seven innings, taking game one, 8-6.

With the split, the Panthers moved to 16-17 overall and 7-7 in the Skyline Conference. For the guests, they now sit at 23-13 and 10-6, respectively.

Game One: Maritime 8, Purchase 6 (7 inn)

Maritime opened the day with three runs in the first inning, as an RBI-single and two-run home run set the tone early.

However, an error in the bottom of the first allowed Liam Daly (FR/Babylon, NY) to score, trimming Purchase's deficit to 3-1.

One inning later, Trevor Zanderzuk (JR/Manorville, NY) hit an RBI-double to cut into the deficit even more.

In the third inning, the Panthers gained the lead after Rega hit an RBI-single and Sam Saltzman (SO/Old Bethpage, NY) crushed an RBI-double, making the margin 4-3 in the Panthers' favor.

After a scoreless fourth frame, a Maritime error in the fifth allowed Patrick Reyes (FR/Plainedge, NY) to score another run, pushing the game to 5-3.

The Privateers then came out swinging in the sixth and seventh innings, as they scored two runs and three runs, respectively, flipping the previous deficit into an 8-5 lead.

Purchase then responded by nearly pulling off the comeback win after loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs.

However, the guests remained vigilant and allowed just one run to score off a sacrifice fly from Tristen Abreu (FR/Mineola, NY), before sealing the 8-6 win.

Both teams finished with 10 hits apiece in the effort, as Reyes led the way for the Panthers with three hits.

Saltzman and Matt Castrogiovanni (FR/Massapequa Park, NY) each tallied two hits apiece in the loss.

On the mound, Myles Scarry (JR/Levittown, NY) collected the losing result, despite his tossing his fifth complete game of the season. Over his seven innings of work, Scarry struck out eight on 135 pitches.

Senior Day Ceremony

Following the opening game, the team stopped between contests to celebrate it's senior class of four students. This group included: Louis Carvell (New York, NY), Jemal Betances (Bronx, NY), Jackson Lowery (Woodbridge, VA) and Ryan Castrataro (Mahopac, NY).

The four seniors were honored by their coaches and teammates, as they were given gifts by the coaching staff and a speech that was prepared by Head Coach Adam Taraska was read aloud. Following the gifts, the players stopped and posed for photos with the rest of the crew as they all celebrated the years they have spent together.

To read the full Senior Day script, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Game Two: Purchase 9, Maritime 8

With the Senior Day festivities in the book, the Panthers quickly shifted their focus back to the task at hand - the Privateers of Maritime College.

Maritime entered the doubleheader tied for second place in the conference, so Purchase knew it was going to be in for a battle all game and had to start quick.

The hosts did just that, as a wild pitch allowed Zanderzuk to cross the plate in the bottom of the first.

After an RBI-double from Maritime tied things up in the second, a two-run homer from Daly and an RBI-single from Tyler Della Mura (FR/Rye Brook, NY) lifted the Panthers back in front in the fourth frame, 4-1.

The lead evaporated quickly though, as the guests scored three runs in the fifth to tie things back up.

However, back-to-back RBI hits from Daly and Reyes in the fifth pushed the Blue and Orange back in front, at least momentarily, 6-4.

From there, the contest flipped back in favor of the Privateers after they scored four runs in the sixth inning.

The Panthers then scored via a sacrifice fly from Betances in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-7, before the offense for both teams dried up until the bottom of the ninth inning.

With the score still 8-7 in favor of the guests, Purchase entered the final frame knowing it was now or never.

It started off well with a lead-off triple from Scarry, before Castrogiovanni knocked him in during the next at-bat with a single to the outfield.

The run gave the hosts some breathing room knowing that they at least had extra innings ahead of them. But Coach Taraska and the team wanted the win now, and they showed it.

Following the Castrogiovanni RBI-single, Reyes hit a single to put two runners on, before Della Mura hit into a fielder's choice and moved the lead runner to third base with one out.

After a strikeout pushed the Panthers to their final at-bat, Taraska called on his first-year catcher Rega in a crucial spot to try and get the pinch-hit winner.

Rega did just that as he crushed the ball down the left field line, allowing Castrogiovanni to cruise home and score the winning run.

The duo was then mobbed on the field by their teammates, as the Panthers left the field with a glorious win to cap off an amazing Senior Day.

For the game, Reyes again led the offense with three hits, while Scarry and Daly each added two hits apiece. 

On the mound, Castrataro earned the Senior Day start and pitched well in his five innings of action. He allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and struck out one in the no-decision effort.

Joining Castrataro on the mound in game two were his fellow seniors, Lowery and Betances.

The duo combined to throw the final two innings of the night, allowing just one hit and striking out two, as the latter earned his first win of the season.

Up next for the Panthers is a quick turnaround, as the team travels to Manhattanville College tomorrow (May 3) for another Skyline doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.

SENIOR DAY SCRIPT:
 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we kindly direct your attention to the home plate area as we honor four graduating seniors. All four of these student-athletes have been here at Purchase for their entire four and five year careers. We could not be more proud to celebrate their accomplishments here today.

Our first senior is a four-year member of the program and a left-handed pitcher from Mahopac, NY, who continued to develop and improve over the course of his career. As a freshmen, he battled for time working out of the bullpen, making three appearances in the team's eight games before the season was shut down. He committed himself over the following summer and fall seasons to getting better, and the results showed in his sophomore season of 2021, where he appeared in nine games and earned three starts, finishing with a 2-1 record and a dazzling 1.69 ERA in 26 2/3 innings, highlighted by a 6-inning, 4-hit gem at Maritime where he struck out 8. In his junior year of 2022, he had developed to the point where he led the team in IP with 54 2/3 and tied for the team lead with 9 starts on the hill. He was a true innings eater and a dependable weekend arm, routinely pitching into the 7th, 8th, and even 9th innings of his starts. His standout performance was an 8 1/3 inning masterpiece against Old Westbury, where he struck out only 1 batter, but only allowed just 5 hits in a 3-2 victory. In this, his senior season, he was able to hold the conference leading St. Joe's LI team to 2 runs in his eight innings, with 5 k's, allowing just 4 hits in an extra inning loss where he did not factor into the decision. He has earned the start in the upcoming game 2 of today's doubleheader. He holds a cumulative GPA of 3.36 and will graduate with a degree in Political Science next week. Joined by his mother Dana, his father James, and his sister Lexie, #22 co-captain RYAN CASTRATARO!!!

Our next senior is a fifth-year player from the Bronx and St. Raymond's HS. Over the course of his career as a Panther, he has played all over the field, from OF, to 3B, to Catcher and Pitcher. As a freshman he threw 20 innings on the mound, earning a win and a save. He also got 45 at-bats in 15 starts in the field, doubling four times and homering once. After his sophomore season was cut short due to the pandemic, he came back with a fury in 2021, hitting .354 in 21 starts, highlighted by a 3 for 3 performance with 2 R and 1 RBI in an 8-6 win over Mt. St. Mary's. His senior season of 2022 was wiped out due to a torn ACL he suffered in a fall game. This season was a realization of potential for Mel as he wanted the starting SS job and worked his tail off to prove that he was able, and to rehab from the torn ACL which cost him the entire 2022 season.  He has done an exceptional job at SS, the most difficult position to play on the field, most of the time making it look easy. He has also pitched out of the bullpen, securing four saves. More important is his leadership, understanding of situations, knowledge of the game, and ability to communicate all of those things to his teammates on the field and in the dugout. He will graduate next week with a bachelor's in Liberal Studies with a minor in Psychology. Joined by his father, Argenis, brother Bradley, and family friend Brian Genao, co-captain #7 JEMAL BETANCES!!!

​Our next senior is another four-year Panther hailing from Woodbridge, VA. As fate would have it, he was recruited by Coach Taraska after stumbling upon him at a Perfect Game tournament on Staten Island. The side-arming RHP has a knack for keeping hitters off balance with his unorthodox delivery and arm slot. Over the course of his career he's made 26 appearances, throwing 24 innings with 21 strikeouts. He has also locked down two saves and one win out of the bullpen. As importantly, he is the type of young man any coach will tell you that every program needs. Always looking to lend a helping hand at practices and especially on gameday, he is the general of the dugout and the bullpen, routinely making certain that responsibilities are assigned and executed. He is also an intellectual and his insights are always appreciated in the dugout by teammates and coaches alike. He will graduate next week with a degree in Political Science. Joined by his father, Matthew and brother, Carter, #20 JACKSON LOWERY!!!

Finally our last senior is another four-year Panther hailing from the east end of Long Island and Manhattan's NYC LAB School.

After coming back from the shut-down season of 2020, his sophomore season showed flashes, as he proved to the coaching staff and his teammates that he was able to hang in his 47 at-bats. His season was highlighted by a walk-off base hit in a 3-2 win over Maritime. He continued to work and grind into his junior year of 2022, where he earned 91 at-bats, hitting .286, including 7 multi-hit games. He went 2 for 4 with with 2 RBI's against New Paltz, changing a 2-2 game to a 4-2 win in his final two at-bats. This senior co-captain has a perfect combination of talent, work ethic, stoicism, respect from teammates and coaches, and calming presence. He was counted on for many things as a co-captain and he was able to keep the team together and organized brilliantly. He was doing these types of things before this year as well. His tenacity and all-business approach to being a Panther set an example of the type of person and player this program strives to recruit. He will graduate next week with a B.S. in Communications, a B.A. in Anthropology, and a sterling 3.79 GPA. Joined by his mother, Kim, his father Lou Sr., and his dog Scout, co-captain #1 LOUIS CARVELL!!!

Congratulations to these four graduating Panthers. We thank you for your commitment to the program. We will always be proud of you and you will always be Panthers!