HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 24, 2017) – Junior Quinn DiPasquale struck out nine over six efficient innings, ten different batters reached base, and the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Houghton College, 8-3, Friday evening, in the Empire 8 Conference opener.
Senior Michael Mule' collected three hits and drove in two and freshman A.J. Falconite scored three times for Stevens (6-9-1; 1-0), who defeated the Highlanders for the seventh straight time.
Tage Johnson reached two times and drove in a run for Houghton (7-7; 0-1). John Zamites, who entered the game leading the conference in batting average (.565) and on-base percentage (.643) went 0-for-4.
The Ducks struck quickly against Houghton starter John Kopicky (1-2). Mule' led off the game with a double down the left field line. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Kopicky induced a run-scoring double play off the bat of Zeph Walters and second baseman Patrick Rood followed with an RBI single to give Stevens a 2-0 lead.
Kopicky ran into trouble again in the second. Eric Zickert led off with a single to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. Falconite walked and both runners advanced on Garrett Wells' sacrifice bunt. Mule' reached on an infield single, scoring the speedy Zickert. After a passed ball moved the Stevens centerfielder into scoring position, Bartnick grounded to second to plate the second run of the inning.
Making his third start of the year, the tall hurler struggled throughout the evening against the Stevens batters, as the Ducks put runners on base in each of the first four innings. Kopicky allowed eight runs (six earned) in 6 2-3 innings, striking out four but walking eight.
Given an early four-run cushion to work with, DiPasquale (2-1) worked quickly and accurately in silencing a Houghton offense that arrived in Hoboken leading the conference in runs. The Chelmsford, Massachusetts native struck out the side twice and allowed a mere two hits. Nicholas Melchiore's third-inning, fielder's choice RBI spoil DiPasquale's shutout bid.
Senior Nolan Bennett drew a bases-loaded walk and Walters added a fielder's choice RBI as part of a two-run sixth and Falconite and Mule' each had RBI singles in the seventh.
Houghton scored twice against Drew Hanke in the eighth to drawn within 8-3. After striking out David Wessells to open the frame, Hanke gave up three straight singles with Melchiore scoring on the third one. With runners at the corner, Ethan Duryea lifted a shallow pop up to center that both Mule' and Zickert were calling for. Mule' slid underneath the shortstop to make the catch, but the ball popped out of his glove and trickled away from him for an error, allowing Taylor Huntsman to score after the Houghton third baseman had retreated back to the bag in case Mule' was able to complete the catch.
Houghton loaded the bases in the ninth against Bridger Cohen but the graduate student was able to retire Johnson on a grounder to second to end the game. The scoreless ninth extended Cohen's scoreless innings streak to 7 2-3 (over six appearances).
Up Next: The Ducks and the Highlands close out their series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. Originally scheduled for later in the day, first pitch for game one has been moved to 1:30 p.m. to potentially avoid predicted inclement weather. First pitch for game two is approximately 4 p.m.