Yaphank, NY – Farmingdale State scored four unearned runs Wednesday evening and defeated the Mariners, 6-1, at Baseball Heaven. Joseph Policastro (Hauppague, NY) had USMMA's lone RBI with a single in the fifth inning as well as an outfield assist to throw out a runner at the plate. Freshman Patrick Morgan (Roxboro, NC) pitched six innings, allowing one earned run, in his first collegiate start.
Farmingdale State (1-0) got on the board in the second inning as a USMMA error led to runners on second and third with one out. The Rams plated a pair of runs on an Edward Bergmann infield single that rolled directly over the second base bag. Farmingdale State got four strong innings from its starter, Michael Dolce, who surrendered just one hit and notched four strikeouts.
FSC added two more runs in the fifth inning after drawing back-to-back walks to start the frame. Following a sacrifice bunt, Andrew Karkota ripped a single through the left side to make it 3-0. However, Policastro gunned down a runner at the plate for the second out of the inning. The Rams would go up, 4-0, when a dropped fly ball in the outfield cost USMMA the third out.
Merchant Marine (2-1) scratched out one run in its half of the fifth inning with Cameron Stadele (Alpharetta, GA) and Jacob Wood (Richmond, VA) setting the table via walks. Policastro roped a single to center field that allowed Stadele to score with the Mariners first tally. Francis Grzymkowski (Stafford, VA) followed with his own single up the middle, which would bounce away from the Rams center fielder. However, Wood was unable to advance home and Policastro was thrown out between second and third to end the inning.
USMMA tried to manufacture its second run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out first-and-third stealing play. Stadele left early from first to get caught in a run down as Warren Hartmann (Wyckoff, NJ) sprinted towards home. The home plate umpire would rule that Stadele was tagged out just before Hartmann touched safely, ending the Mariners' threat.
Farmingdale State tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth by virtue of a USMMA fielding error as well as a wild pitch. Alex Weingarten earned the win on the mound with three innings of relief, striking out three batters.
The USMMA baseball team returns to action Friday night at Baseball Heaven against Brockport State. First-pitch is set for 6:00 PM.