HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 18, 2018) – Senior Alex Detweiler went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs, freshman Roy Iversen earned his first collegiate victory, and the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team earned a 5-4 come-from-behind win over New Jersey City University Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Dobbelaar Field.
Juniors Carlos Leon and Donny Gherardi each added two hits for Stevens, who won its second straight game to improve to 6-8.
Designated hitter Mike Albunia had two hits and drove in a pair for the Gothic Knights, who dropped their fourth straight to fall to 5-4.
"Another satisfying team win," said head coach Kristaps Aldins. "Roy did a god job in the middle innings [to earn] his first collegiate victory and then Danny came back on short rest and shut the door with a one-run lead. I still think we can do a much better job putting teams away, especially when we give ourselves chances with runners in scoring position. However, considering this was our sixth game in six days, it says a lot about our team's grit and determination to get a big win like this."
Detweiler, the team leader in runs batted in, matched a career-high with the four singles. The Sarasota, Florida native put Stevens in front for good in the fifth. Junior Matthew Pasko reached on a dropped third strike to open the rally against Kyle Kafer (1-1). Kafer came on in relief in the third inning. Leon doubled over the head of center fielder Juan Pena to advance Pasko to third. Detweiler followed and drove Kyle Kafer's first pitch through the left side to easily score both baserunners to give Stevens a 5-4 lead. Kafer allowed two runs, one earned, over 5 1-3 innings.
Iversen (1-0) came on in relief of starter Andrew Hamel, after Albunia's two-out double gave NJCU a 3-1 lead in the third. The Oak Park, Illinois native walked Jesse Kraft to begin his outing, but promptly picked Albunia off to end the inning. The right-hander one run on three hits over 2 1-3 innings and struck out a career-high five.
Junior Danny Poidomani struck out eight over the final four innings to earn his first career save. The left-hander allowed Nick LoGatto's two-out single in the sixth, then retired NCJU's final 11 batters. The three Stevens pitchers combined to strike out 15 NJCU batters, matching a season high for punchouts.
Stevens chased NJCU starter Nate Facey in the third. Freshman Raymond Cortes III collected his first career hit with a double to lead off the frame. Junior Donny Gherardi, who homered off Facey in the first, touched the right-hander again for an RBI double down the left field line. Detweiler hit a sharp single to right, scoring Gherardi to tie the game at three.
Hamel allowed three runs over 2 2-3 innings in his second start of the year.
Up Next: Stevens opens a stretch of four consecutive road games with a visit to in-state rival Kean University on Wednesday, March 21. The Cougars topped the Ducks, 8-5, on opening day.
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