THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime baseball team closed out its weekend with a pair of losses to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday on the Reinhart Baseball Field. Maritime lost the first game by the score of 7-4, before falling in game two by a 1-0 score.
 
Maritime was led offensively by freshman Travis Zurita(Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep), who had three RBIs for the Privateers on the afternoon, while sophomore Antonio Diaz (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) had one RBI on the afternoon. Sophomore Phil Russo (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) had four hits on the day with one double, while senior Connor Alwan (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) had three knocks including a double.
 
Senior Aaron Schiavoni (Sag Harbor, N.Y./Pierson) and classmate Matt Costleigh (West Islip, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had two hits on the afternoon, along with Zurita. Senior Chris Deddo (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) had two runs scored while senior Stephen Semler (Kirkland, Wash./Lake Washington)scored one run on the day.
 
In the opener sophomore Travis Bruinsma (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) went the first 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs, before junior Matthew Buckshaw (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) came in to get seven outs while allowing one earned run. Junior Alex Poliwoda (Southold, N.Y./Southold) closed out the opener for the Privateers as he struck out three batters over the final 2 1/3 innings.

Senior Anthony D'Ancona (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) pitched the second game for Maritime and allowed one unearned run while scattering four hits and striking out a pair over his seven-inning outing.
 
Game 1 Recap
In the opener Maritime jumped out to an early lead after Bruinsma got through the top of the first inning with a defensive assist from freshman outfielder Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade).
 
The bottom half of the inning saw Semler reach on a fielding error, before Deddo singled to put the first two men on base. Russo singled to load the bases before Zurita doubled down the right field line to plate a pair. Diaz reached on a fielder's choice as the third run touched home for the Privateers.
 
After a very easy second inning for both pitchers, the Mariners were able to tie the game on a bases-clearing double in the top of the third. The Privateers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but were unable to break the 3-3 tie.
 
Merchant Marine added solo runs in both the fourth and fifth innings before Maritime got one back in the bottom of the fifth. Deddo led off with a walk followed by a single from Costleigh, two batters later Zurita brought Deddo home with a single to pull back within one at 5-4.
 
The Mariners added one more run in both the sixth and seventh innings to take a 7-4 lead, which held through the end of the ballgame. Maritime had two runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, and one runner on in both the eighth and ninth but were unable to connect on the big hit.
 
Game 2 Recap
D'Ancona got the ball in game one and allowed two runners to reach before getting out of the inning on a double play turned by Deddo, Costleigh and Russo. In the top of the second the leadoff hitter reached on a single then moved around to third on a stolen base and a balk. Two batters later a line drive was dropped defensively allowing the only run of the game to score.
 
Maritime didn't get a runner into scoring position until the fourth as Zurita walked and Schiavoni was hit by a pitch, but again the Privateers were unable to get the timely hit to even the score. Maritime left two runners on in both the fourth and the sixth, before Alwan doubled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh with the tying run. The Privateers were again unable to connect on the key hit as the Mariners escaped with the one-run victory.
 
Maritime (14-9, 4-4 Skyline) will be back in action on Tuesday evening, as the Privateers will welcome in former Skyline Conference foe Manhattanville for a 7:00 p.m. start on Reinhart Field. It will be Maritime's first meeting with Manhattanville since 2007, when the Privateers and Valiants met as conference opponents on April 22 of that season.
 
Merchant Marine (21-4, 8-2 Skyline) will travel to William Paterson on Tuesday for a 3:45 p.m. start at Jeff Albies Field in Wayne, New Jersey.