Hoboken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team scattered three hits over 15 innings as the Ducks notched a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom sweep of FDU-Florham on Saturday.
The Ducks (13-9, 9-0 MAC Freedom) took down FDU-Florham (8-15, 2-7 MAC Freedom).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoreless through two and a half frames, Stevens broke through for the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Frank Tonina doubled down the left-field line with one out and moved to third on a groundout. Eli Somers then belted a triple to deep center, plating Tonina.
That was all starter Justin Doyle needed, as he allowed just one hit from the top of the fourth through the top of the seventh. That runner, Parker Muratore, was thrown out trying to stretch an infield single into a double. Stevens added to its lead in the sixth, scoring twice. Liam DeRubertis tripled to right-center, and first-year Jack Reichlin smacked an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right-center, extending the lead. Doyle punctuated the victory with two strikeouts in the seventh before a groundout closed out game one.
FDU-Florham scored twice in the first inning of game two, with the big blow coming on a two-run home run by Dan Cowles. After being held scoreless in the first, the Ducks leveled the game in the bottom of the second. DeRubertis launched a home run to the deepest part of the park, drawing the Ducks within one. Reichlin walked and came all the way around on a single from Kevin Villares.
Joe Gonzalez allowed just one baserunner after the first inning and set down eight straight from the second through the fourth. The Ducks took the lead for good in the fourth, putting up two runs. Reichlin walked to lead off the frame and moved up a bag on a wild pitch. Villares hit a double down the right-field line, allowing Reichlin to score. Kieran O'Brien followed with a bunt, and the throw sailed into right field, allowing Villares to score.
Stevens added three runs in the fifth. DeRubertis had his second hit of the game, a double to center. Villares singled him home two batters later before O'Brien tallied a two-run knock up the middle, extending the lead to 7-2. Matt Villapianoregistered two strikeouts in the sixth before Stevens erupted for five runs on four hits in the bottom half. Somers and Dylan Fishbough singled with one out before DeRubertis tripled to left-center, scoring both. Quinton Sterling pinch-hit and singled in a run before Colby Ching and Aaron Wong walked with the bases loaded, stretching the lead to 12-2.
The Devils battled for two runs on no hits in the seventh, cutting the gap to 12-4. Jacob Buurman came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning and struck out Ryan Johnston to end the frame. Buurman continued to pitch effectively, setting FDU-Florham down 1-2-3 in the eighth. Cooper Poggioli, O'Brien, Ching, and Wong recorded consecutive singles to make it 13-4 before Jordan Fisse came up as a pinch-hitter and walked with the bases loaded to complete the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Doyle tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits and one walk. The right-hander has struck out nine in each of his last two outings. More impressively, both batters who recorded hits were thrown out on the basepaths.
- FDU-Florham had just one runner reach second base in the opening contest.
- Reichlin's home run marked his second of the season.
- The Ducks' one-hitter in game two marked the first one-hitter by the team since February 18, 2023, against William Paterson and the first in conference play since April 2, 2022, against King's.
- DeRubertis finished a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
- O'Brien and Villares each went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Ching added two RBIs.
- Buurman and Villapiano tallied three strikeouts each, with Gonzalez adding two.
UP NEXT
The Ducks host Farmingdale State on Thursday, with first pitch at Dobbelaar Field scheduled for 5 p.m.