WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (February 21, 2014) – The Maritime baseball team continued its four-game opening series in Florida this Friday as the team took to Chain of Lakes Park, the former spring training home of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. In the game, the Privateers fell by a 13-3 score in a seven-inning affair.
 
Maritime was able to get a pair of runners on first with two down in the opening inning but were unable to take an early lead to start the game. Freshman pitcher Ryan Heizman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) made his collegiate debut in the bottom of the inning and yielded a pair of runs to give the Bears a 2-0 lead after one frame.
 
The Privateers answered back in the second inning as junior catcher Matthew Sollin (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side)got the offense going with a single, then promptly stole second. Sophomore D.J. Seymour (Nassau, Bahamas/Rabun Gap) then sent a pitch sailing towards the left field wall over the outstretched arm of the leftfielder to bring home Sollin with Maritime's first run. Seymour was stranded on third base at the end of the inning.
 
St. Joseph's added to its lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 advantage, but again Maritime answered back.
 
Senior Tom Bauer (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) reached on an error followed by junior Joe Longo (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) lacing a single down the left field line. Senior Nick Galli (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph By the Sea) reached on a single to load the bases, followed by rookie Brian McLaughlin (Massapequa, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) bringing home another run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Paul Woodburn (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) then flew out, and Longo was erased trying to tag and score at the plate to end the rally.
 
The Bears added three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-2 lead, chasing Heizman in the process. RookiePeter McGurty (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech) came on for his collegiate debut and retired the lone man he faced in the inning. McGurty was touched up for two earned runs as the lead ballooned to 13-2 in favor of St. Joseph's.
 
In the top of the seventh, freshman Chris Stewart (Bethpage, N.Y./Chaminade) singled to start off the frame. Two batters later, sophomore Chris Kroh (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) walked but was erased on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with two down. Freshman Nick Trivolis (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) then singled in his first career at bat to bring home Stewart with Maritime's final run as the team fell by a 13-3 score.
 
Heizman wrapped up the game allowing three earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks with one strikeout. McGurty allowed two runs over 1 1/3 innings, while junior Charles Cosgriff (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) finished off the game with a scoreless inning in the sixth.
 
Maritime (0-2, 0-0 Skyline) continues its trip with a contest tomorrow evening against Grace (Nebraska) for a 6 p.m. first pitch.  St. Joseph's (0-1) plays their second game of the season against Brandeis later today.