YAPHANK, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The Golden Bears of Western New England University slipped by the SUNY College at Old Westbury baseball team Sunday evening to score a 3-1 victory from Baseball Heaven. Old Westbury moves to 0-8 to start the season heading into Friday's conference opening doubleheader with Yeshiva in Farmingdale, New York. Coming off its eighth straight NCAA tournament appearance, the Golden Bears open the season at 1-1 after falling to No. 2 Southern Maine 14-1 in the season opener earlier in the day.
Old Westbury received a quality start from Tim Ingram, but were unable to muster enough offense to get the win. Steve Buckley ignited the Golden Bear offense by driving a two-run homer over the left field wall in the first inning for an early lead. Jacob Coners (1-3) led off the bottom of the first for the Panthers with a single to extend his career-best hitting streak to eight games. Two batters later, Coners was picked off at first to end Old Westbury's threat.
Old Westbury's offense pulled through in the third inning to make it a 2-1 game as Carlos Balmaceda drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved over the third off an infield single by Matteo Gaudio. Balmaceda and Gaudio then pulled off a successful double steal which allowed the Panthers to cross home plate for their lone run of the game.
Ingram's day ended when reliever Caleb Olesen was called on to pitch a perfect seventh inning. Alex DiSanto then took over to pitch the final two innings, where he fanned four batters despite allowing Buckley to stroke an RBI single in the eighth inning for a two run lead.
Despite being dealt the loss, Ingram (0-2) racked up a career-high seven strikeouts as Old Westbury's pitching staff tallied a season-best 13 strikeouts.
Starter Trevor Breton (1-0) pitched five innings and struck out five Panthers to secure Western New England's win. Breton allowed one run on four hits and three walks before Mike Lospinuso earned the four inning save.
Kevin Licul (2-4) finished with his third multi-hit game of the season for the Panthers.
Buckley (2-5, 3 RBI, R) paced the Golden Bears offensively by driving in all three runs. Scott Hubener (2-3, 2 R) and Steve Ambrosino (2-4) added multi-hit performances as Western New England edged Old Westbury in hits, 7-6.
YESHIVA MACCABEES UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to the diamond on Friday (March 14) for a Skyline Conference opening doubleheader with the Yeshiva Maccabees in Farmingdale, New York. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. from Rams Field on the campus of Farmingdale State College.
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