HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 24, 2018)  – Junior Carlos Leon delivered a one-out RBI single to give the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over Arcadia University in 10 innings Saturday in a non-conference game at Dobbelaar Field. 

Senior Alex Detweiler began the winning rally with a four-pitch walk off Andrew Scholz (2-2). Freshman Raymond Cortes III, who came on as a defensive replacement in the eighth for sophomore Patrick Rood, moved the winning run into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Junior Donny Gherardi was intentionally walked. Leon, a junior outfielder, who turned in a key defensive play earlier in the game, drove Scholz's first pitch into center field, scoring Detweiler and setting off a celebration between first base and home plate.

Senior Drew Hanke (2-0) earned the victory, spinning a pair of hitless innings. The Pompano Beach, Florida resident struck out Drew Coisson on a high fastball to close out a 10-pitch at-bat in the top half of the 10th with the potential winning run at second base.

"First of all, thank you to our administration and staff for allowing us to play this game on short notice," said head coach Kristaps Aldins. "This was a very exciting game and an even more exciting game to win. Arcadia is a quality team. One of the best things about today is that it gave us the opportunity to get three of our pitches some much-needed work. Chandler, Andrew and Drew all had very good outings and we will need all three of them pitching at their best over the next two weeks when our game schedule gets busy. Happy to see Carlos have a great day and get the game-winning hit."

Leon finished the day 2-for-5 and Gherardi had a three-run homer for the Ducks, who won their third straight to improve to 7-8 on the year. Leon began an inning-ending double play in the second, snaring Bryan Gillen's line drive in right and quickly throwing home to nab Tyler Wisneski at the plate, who was trying to score on the flyout.

Third baseman Trevor Mattson homered and drove in two for Arcadia, who saw its five-game winning streak come to a close. The Knights fell to 10-3. The Stevens win evened the all-time series at 1, with each team earning a walk-off victory.

Trailing 2-0, Stevens erupted for four runs in the first off starter Mike Boulanger. Sophomore Matthew Pasko reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a flyout, Detweiler singled on the first pitch to score to Pasko with Stevens' first run of the game. Rood extended the rally with a single to left and Gherardi cleared the bases with a long blast over the right field wall for his second homer of the season. 

Sophomore Chandler Brierley settled down after a shaky first inning to allow an earned run in three innings. Senior Andrew Hamel came on in relief and kept the potent Arcadia offense off the board until the sixth. Arcadia came into the game scoring eight or more runs in eight of its 12 previous contests. Sean Carew walked to lead off the frame and Mattson tied the score with a long two-run homer. Hamel retired the next three Knights in order to limit the damage. The lefty allowed three runs over five innings with three strikeouts.

As was the case in the first, the Ducks answered an Arcadia scoring rally with one of their own. Senior Tommy Baronner began the run-scoring sequence with a two-out single through the left side of the infield and promptly stole his third base of the season. Pasko drove Boulanger's 1-2 offering to right for an RBI single to again put the hosts in front. The junior shortstop is second on the team with 17 hits.. 

Arcadia again rallied off Hamel to knot the score in the eighth. Sean Carew doubled off the wall in center and moved to third on Mattson's single. Evan Hurst pinch-ran for Mattson at first. Nick Potente lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Carew with the tying run. Drew Coisson pinch-hit for catch Tyler Wisnewski. Catcher Matt Branco threw out Hurst trying to steal second. The Ducks nabbed three Arcadia runners on the day. Coisson reached on an infield single and moved to second on a Pasko throwing error, however Hamel induced a sharp lineout from Matt Ernst to end the threat.

Freshman catcher Matthew Schmidt made his first career start and collected his first collegiate hit with a second-inning single. Pinch-runner John Hammil also stole his first base of the season.

Up Next: Stevens opens Empire 8 Conference play with a Sunday doubleheader against Ithaca College. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.

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