Game 1: Farmingdale State - 3, #25 Shenandoah - 2
Game 2: #25 Shenandoah - 5, Farmingdale State - 3
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team (24-10) played in their final regular-season home games today against non-conference opponent and nationally ranked #25 Shenandoah University (27-10). It was senior day for outfielder Terrence Bohonan (Patchogue, N.Y.), pitcher Anthony Eilers (Bay Shore, N.Y.), infielder Ron Remi (Massapequa, N.Y.), catcher Eric Wiener (Deer Park, N.Y.) and outfielder David Zilnicki (Riverhead, N.Y.).
Game 1
The Rams snapped the Hornets' six-game win streak with a 3-2 victory in game one. Farmingdale went up 1-0 in the first off an RBI single by junior third baseman Daniel Paccione (Commack, N.Y.) to score sophomore left fielder Nick Ventricelli (Woodbury, N.Y.).
In the second, the Hornets tied the game 1-1 with an unearned run, but the Rams grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the third with a three hit inning. A bases loaded fielder's choice scored Ventricelli from third for his second run of the day. A double steal in the fifth would give Farmingdale the 3-1 lead.
Shenandoah was able to rally in the ninth after an error and a walk put two runners on base with no outs. A groundout moved the runners to second and third with one out. Senior left fielder Nick Beall (Montclair, Va.) brought home the runner from third with an RBI groundout, for a 3-2 score with two outs, and a runner at third base.
The next batter hit a streaking ball to left field, but Ventricelli made the diving catch for the game-ending out. Ventricelli finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Freshman Cameron Kitt (Commack, N.Y.) was awarded the win to improve to 4-0 on the year after 3.1 innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts. Freshman Matthew Fick (Commack, N.Y.) picked up his third save pitching the final three outs.
Game 2
Shenandoah scored two after a two-out error in the second inning for the 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the inning, Remi singled through the left side, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. He came home on a groundout by Dan Luppens to make it 2-1.
The Hornets made it 3-1 in the fourth with another unearned run and added another run in the fifth off two hits for a 4-1 lead.
Farmingdale State got two back in the fifth to make it 4-3. Freshman third baseman Jorge Ruiz (Shirley, N.Y.) singled to left and came around to score on an error. Zilnicki reached on that error, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch.
The Rams had a chance to tie in the sixth but stranded a runner on third. Shenandoah took a 5-3 lead with a bases loaded hit batter in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, a one-out walk put pinch hitter Dalton McCarthy on first. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zilnicki walked to get two runners on base with one out. With two out and a full count, Anthony Alvino walked to load the bases.
Cameron Lundmark moved from second base to pitch the final out and recorded a strikeout for his 7th save of the year. Billy Arens got the win for his fifth win of the season (5-1).
For Farmingdale State, Zilnicki went 1-for-3 with a run scored, walk and stolen base. Remi was 1-for-2 with a run scored and stolen base. Luppens was 1-for-2 with an RBI and Ruiz was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
The Rams will now travel to face Baruch on Tuesday, April 25th for a non-conference game at 3:30 p.m.
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