THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – Maritime baseball's Skyline Conference postseason run came to a close on Wednesday, as the Privateers fell to the fourth-seeded U.S. Merchant Marine Mariners by the score of 10-1 at Lower Roosevelt Field.
 
The Privateers were held to just four hits as senior Stephen Semler (Kirkland, Wash./Lake Washington) notched a team-high two hits, while senior Matt Costleigh (West Islip, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and freshman Shane Sullivan (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Chaminade)also had hits on the afternoon. Freshman Travis Zurita (Ozone Park, N.Y./Poly Prep) walked twice and scored a run as sophomore Phil Russo (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Seniors Connor Alwan (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) and Chris Deddo (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) also walked once to round out the day at the plate.
 
On the mound senior Anthony D'Ancona (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) pitched on short rest in the must-win game and was only able to make it one batter into the fourth inning as he was charged with three earned runs while striking out one. Freshman Kyle Peterson (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) allowed one run over his inning of work, while senior Matthew Buckshaw (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) pitched a perfect fifth, but surrendered two runs on a hit and a walk and got one out in the sixth.
 
Sophomore Skylar Graff (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) was unable to get one out as he yielded two earned runs. Junior Alex Poliwoda(Southold, N.Y./Southold) threw the final 2 2/3 innings and struck out a pair to close out his junior season.
 
Maritime got the game started in the top of the first inning as Russo reached on a throwing error. Semler was up next and doubled to right centerfield, but Russo was thrown out at the plate trying to score. In the bottom of the first the Mariners plated their first run of the game after back-to-back one-out doubles. The Mariners added three more in the bottom of the second to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Zurita walked on a 3-2 pitch to start the top of the third inning before moving up to second on a throwing error. Costleigh flew out allowing Zurita to cross to third before Russo hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give Maritime its first run of the game.
 
The Mariners added two more runs in the fourth to open up a 6-1 lead before taking complete control of the game with four more runs in the sixth, putting the game out of reach.
 
Maritime (23-13, 11-7 Skyline) will now wait to hear if it receives a bid to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship.
 
Merchant Marine (25-12, 11-7 Skyline) will head to Farmingdale to take on the top-seeded Rams for a 12 p.m. start at Farmingdale to open up the double-elimination portion of the Skyline Conference Championship.