CHESTERTOWN, Md. (March 16, 2015) – Sophomore Zeph Walters drove in three runs to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team past Washington College 9-6 on Tuesday.
The Ducks improved to 5-3 on the year, while setting a season high with the nine runs.Washington College dropped to 4-2 overall.
Stevens started the scoring early, putting one on the board in the top of the first. Junior Nick Sieber laced a double to left-center that rolled to the wall and then came around to score on a single by sophomore Zeph Walters. The Ducks added to their lead in the top of the third after junior Jonathan Toro drew a one-out walk, swiped second and then came around to score on a pair of errors by the Shoremen shortstop.
Washington scratched a run across in the bottom of third with a two-out rally. Freshman Joe Lozupone hit a double down the right field line and was driven in with a single by senior Brian Alexa. Stevens tacked on a trio of runs in the top of the fourth after Toro drove home freshman Drew Hanke, who recorded his first collegiate hit, and sophomore Harrison Kaye with a single right up the middle. After a walk to Sieber, Walters drove in another with a run-scoring single to center field.
The Shoremen threatened in the bottom of fourth putting a runner on first who was quickly tagged out on a great pickoff move by senior Gary Boardman. After back-to-back singles put runners on first and second but Boardman recorded a groundout to senior shortstop Marc Calleo to end the threat. Kaye reached on an error to lead off the top of the sixth and moved to third on a double by Toro and both came around to score when Sieber reached on a throwing error. Walters drove in another run with an RBI groundout.
Washington wasn't done, and in the of the sixth scored a run on an RBI single by sophomore Charlie Meder which then put runners on first and second. A hit batsman loaded the bases and freshman Ryan Donnelly reached on an error to put another run across the plate. Boardman retired the next batter on a fly-out to right field, but Meder came into score on a wild pitch to cut deficit in half. Lozupone came up next and roped a single to center to score two more Shoremen and into the Stevens lead, but Boardman got a groundout to Calleo to end the five-run inning.
The Ducks loaded the bases in the top of the eight behind a walk from Sieber and freshman Tommy Baronner and junior Jayson Yano reaching on throwing errors. Sophomore Michael Mule' drilled a sacrifice fly to left center to tack on an insurance run.
The Shoremen threatened in the top of the ninth putting two runners on base, but junior Ryan Patterson shut the door, recording back-to-back fly-outs to center to end the game.
Boardman went six innings for the win, fanning three while walking two and allowing eight hits. Walters went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, and Toro finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Lozupone went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Donnelly, Alexa and Meder all drove in a run.
The Ducks will return home Thursday to take on Montclair State in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
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