CROZET, VA (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The No. 23 SUNY College at Old Westbury baseball team opened the 2013 campaign Saturday afternoon in Crozet, Virginia, and came away with a 16-3 setback to open a three-game weekend series with the Frostburg State Bobcats (3-1).  Due to the threat of bad weather, the single nine-inning game was played today, while the doubleheader will be played tomorrow starting at 11 a.m.

For the Panthers, Jonathan Pagan (2-3, HR), Kevin Licul (2-4) and Brian Walsh (2-4, RBI) led the way with a pair of hits apiece.  Tim Walsh started and was pinned with the loss, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits over four innings. Frank DiMaria relieved Walsh in the fifth inning and was tapped for six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of mound work.  Old Westbury's four relievers combined to strike out three in four innings of work, surrendering 13 runs on 13 hits while walking four. 

Things started out well for the Panthers when Jeremy Delgado, hitting second in the lineup, belted a triple to set the plate for Brian Walsh.  Walsh singled in Delgado for the team's first run of the season.  After Walsh was thrown out trying to steal second, Jonathan Pagan clubbed a solo home run to double Old Westbury's advantage.  Back-to-back singles by Kevin Licul and John Angelino, Brandon Stein arrived at the plate to strand both runners on a ground out to shortstop Ryan McGuigan to halt the rally.  Frostburg State answered in the bottom of the first with a leadoff Kevin Kean double, and two batters later McGuigan lifted a sacrifice fly out to left to put the Bobcats on the board.

However, the 2-1 lead was short-live for Old Westbury, as the Bobcats scored two runs in the second  off a pair of errors to take a 3-2 lead.  Singles by Walsh and Pagan gave Old Westbury a chance in the third, but Licul grounded into a double play to strand the two. 

After recording three outs in the fifth, DiMaria ran into trouble in the sixth.  Jon Keeler's one out double followed by a DiMaria wild pitch moved him over to third to set the tone for the inning.  Matt Donaldson tripled home Keeler to double the Bobcats' advantage.   A pair of doubles and triples in addition to a single made it a six run inning on seven hits and one error to build a 9-2 Frostburg State lead.  Frostburg State tacked on two runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth to lead 16-2.  Old Westbury scored in the ninth when Robert Crocitto doubled home pinch runner Alexander Abanavas to close out the scoring. 

Frostburg State starter Doug Politz (1-0) earned the win after going five innings, allowing two runs off eight hits.  Reliever Kenny Georgius tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts while Kyle McCormack recoded the final three outs, despite allowing one run.  Ryan MCGuigan stroked a three-run homer in the eighth and finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with six RBI and three runs scored.  Dylan Shupe (4-4, R) collected four hits while Garrett Price (3-4, RBI, R) followed with three. 

Frostburg State held a 19-11 edge in hits, including a 10-3 advantage in extra base hits.  Old Westbury's 23 game stolen base streak ended with an 0-for-1 showing on the base path. 

FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to action on Sunday (Feb. 24) for a doubleheader with Frostburg State to wrap up the three-game series in Crozet, Virginia.  First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.  

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