HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Right fielder Jon Fleck had a combined four hits, six RBIs and four runs scored to lead the Centenary University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of St. Elizabeth University to open Colonial States Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Our Diamond of Dreams.
Game one saw the Cyclones use a five run second inning to take a lead the home team would not relinquish en route to a 10-3 win. In game two, Centenary jumped out to the early lead only to see the Eagles battle back for a 5-4 advantage. The Cyclones battled back to score three in the bottom of the sixth for the 7-5 victory.
Game One Recap (Centenary Wins 10-3): The Eagles (0-2, 0-2 CSAC) struck first in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.
The Cyclones (2-1, 2-0 CSAC) wasted little time in answering right back as they put five on the board in the bottom half of that frame. Third baseman Kevin Zaccareo Jr. drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run. Fleck then drove in all three runners with a triple to center. Fleck crossed the plate in the inning courtesy of a sac fly off the bat of shortstop Christopher Gass.
The two teams traded runs in the fourth as the Cyclones increased their advantage to 6-3.
Centenary continued to extend its advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher James Howlett had an RBI single and Fleck added a sac fly to center.
The Cyclones' right fielder wasn't done yet as his seventh inning double to left scored pinch runner Mike Roman and gave the home team a 9-3 lead.
Centenary plated one more run in the eight as second baseman Anthony Vassallo scored on a wild pitch to seal the 10-3 win.
Pitcher Tyler Martinez started for the Cyclones and went five strong innings. He allowed three runs and struck out four. Jared Miller was impressive out of the bullpen as he tossed four scoreless relief innings. Miller also posted four strikeouts. John Capozzoli started for St. Elizabeth and gave up five runs in two innings of work.
Fleck was 2-for-4 at the plate for the Cyclones with five RBIs and one run scored. Left fielder Michael Vallario went 2-for-2 with two runs scored while designated hitter Matt Perine also had two hits and two runs scored.
Capozzoli led the Eagles at the plate with three hits.
Game Two Recap (Centenary Wins 7-5): The Cyclones struck first in game two as Vassallo lashed a two-run two-out double to left field.
The Eagles responded with single runs in the second and third innings to tie the game at 2-2.
The home team went back on top 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Fleck doubled home Zaccareo Jr., who had reached on a triple. Fleck then crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
St. Elizabeth took a 5-4 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth.
Centenary once again had the answer with three runs of its own in the bottom half of that frame. Perine scored on a wild pitch before Gass lifted a sac fly to center which plated Roman. A two-out single to left from center fielder Paul Links plated Fleck with what proved to be the final run of the game.
Pitcher Anthony Ranaudo got the final two outs of the ninth inning to secure the 7-5 victory as St. Elizabeth stranded a pair of runners in that frame.
Pitcher Scott Ducey picked up his first win as a Cyclone after tossing 3.1 innings of scoreless relief work with five strikeouts. Ranaudo had one strikeout en route to his first save of the year. Josh Koller took the loss for the Eagles after surrendering six runs in five innings.
Fleck was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two walks and an RBI in game two for the Cyclones. Zaccareo also had a multi-hit game for Centenary as he was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Capozzoli once again lead St. Elizabeth with three hits.
The Cyclones are back in action on Saturday, Mar. 27 when they host Keystone at 12 p.m.