HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 4, 2018)  – Junior Charlie Ruegger scattered five hits over 8.1 innings, senior Alex Detweiler doubled twice and drove in two as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team won its sixth straight game with an 8-2 victory over St. John Fisher College Friday in an Empire 8 Conference game at Dugan Field. 

Sophomore Shaye Bartnick collected three hits and classmate Patrick Rood scored twice for the Ducks, who completed a sweep of the season series with the Cardinals to move to 25-14 on the year and 15-3 in league play. The 15 conference wins marked the program's best effort in the Empire 8 since joining the conference.

"I'm happy for our team and especially our seniors, that we were able to sweep the season series against Fisher and win first place [in the Empire 8] outright in the regular season," said head coach Kristaps Aldins. "We now have a chance to catch our breath after the long trip home and prep for a tough NYU squad on Monday."

Ryan Brown and Peter Pinque each had run-scoring singles for St. John Fisher, who dropped its third consecutive game to fall to 25-13 on the year and 13-5 in conference play. The Cardinals have a two-game series against Keystone College on May 5 and will take on Ithaca on May 10 to open the Empire 8 Tournament. Stevens will open tournament play against Houghton College.

While the Stevens offense continues to produce, scoring eight runs or more in seven of its last games, Ruegger's right arm was the leading story. The Morris Plains, New Jersey native allowed two runs on just five singles on the afternoon, while striking out eight. Ruegger moved into second in the conference with 85 strikeouts and has recorded at least six punchouts in every start this season. The junior hurler had a no-hitter into the sixth inning, losing his quest for history on Ryan Simmons' one-out single. Ruegger (7-2) leads the conference in wins and is among the league leaders in ERA (2.65).

Jake Hewitt (1-2) matched Ruegger's effort through five innings before faltering in the sixth. Junior Donny Gherardi doubled to lead off the inning. Bartnick laid down a perfectly-placed bunt for an infield single. Hewitt hit Detweiler to load the bases. After a fielder's choice swapped Gherardi for Rood on the bases, Hewitt hit freshman Thomas Paulich to force in a run. Sophomore A.J. Falconite drove in his third run of the year with a single to right. Junior Matthew Pasko lofted a fly ball to center, but centerfielder Stephen Edgett dropped it, allowing Pasko to reach on the miscue. Freshman Nathan Zuckerman extended the inning with a successful sacrifice fly to score Paulich for the fourth run of the frame. Hewitt allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits over six innings.

The Ducks extended their advantage in the seventh. Senior Tommy Baronner singled to lead off the inning. The Solana Beach, California native has reached base safely in 37 of his 38 games this season. Following a flyout, Bartnick singled through the right side to move Baronner to third. Detweiler drove in his 45th run of the season with a single to right center, easily scored the speedy Baronner to extend the lead to five. Detweiler added a ninth-inning RBI double for his second run-scoring hit of the day. The Sarasota, Florida native is tied atop the conference leaderboard in RBI.

With a seven-run cushion, Ruegger efficiently worked through the seventh and eighth, but Fisher rallied in the ninth to spoil the shutout. Allen Murphy began the rally with a one-out single and moved to second on pinch-hitter Michael Beimel's single through the right side. Edgett walked to load the bases and Brown singled to right to score the home team's first run of the game. Pinque kept the inning moving with a single to center, scoring Beimel to trim the margin to 8-2. 

Junior Danny Poidomani relieved Ruegger and struck out Jack Vivinetto and Justin Graham to leave the bases loaded and preserve the win.

Up Next: The Ducks close out regular season play with a non-conference game against New York University on Monday, May 7. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

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