YAPHANK, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The SUNY College at Old Westbury baseball team dropped both ends of a non-conference twin bill Sunday to the Eastern Connecticut Warriors from Baseball Heaven.  Game scores were 4-3 in eight frames and 4-2 in the seven-inning nightcap.  With the two results, the Panthers fell to 3-6 on the season while Eastern Connecticut improved to 7-1.  Old Westbury committed 10 errors on the day while neither team recorded an extra base hit. 

In game one, Old Westbury jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings.  In the second frame, back-to-back singles and a double steal set the stage for Robert Crocitto driving in John Angelino off an infield grounder to break the scoring ice.  Steve Mare then drove in Peter Romeo when he grounded to second and two batters later Crocitto scored on a throwing error by catcher Cory DeMedeiros.

Eastern Connecticut answered in the third by Tyler Caserta singling to lead off the inning and later scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Brian Walsh. 

Eastern Connecticut tied the game in the sixth with a Mike Vaccarelli two-run single as part of three straight singles to open the inning. 

In the extra frame, Gavin Lavalle's RBI single was the difference maker in the top of the eighth, which drove in Brendan Lynch for the game-winner. 

Old Westbury held the advantage in hits (8-7) and stolen bases (4-1), while committing three errors. 

Tim Walsh (0-3) took the loss for Old Westbury, fanning four over 7.1 innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks.  Eastern Connecticut starter Evan Chamberlain struck out six Panthers and did not factor into the decision after lasting just 4.2 innings.  Matt Purnell (1-0) allowed two hits in the seventh and eighth innings to record the win.

John Angelino (2-2, R, 2 SB) and Brian Walsh (2-4) paced Old Westbury with multiple hits while Mike Vaccarelli's 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including two RBI led Eastern Connecticut.  Brendan Lynch scored a pair of runs for the Warriors.  

In game two, Eastern Connecticut grabbed a quick 1-0 lead on a fielding error by left fielder Paul Valerio, which allowed Brendan Lynch to score after leading off the game with a single.  Old Westbury committed seven errors in the nightcap, the most since their seven miscues against New Paltz on March 11, 2012. 

Eastern Connecticut added two unearned runs in the top of the second before Old Westbury answered in the bottom half of the inning with a groundout that scored Jonathan Pagan.  John Angelino then followed by crossing the plate off a wild pitch to slice the deficit to 3-2. 

Joseph Walsh recorded his first career hit, singling with two outs in the fifth to break up Tom Darby's no-hitter.  Eastern Connecticut stroked consecutive singles to open the sixth followed by third baseman Joseph Walsh's throwing error that allowed Joe Perez to score.  

Mike Vaccarelli collected two hits and Tyler Caserta scored two runs to lead Eastern Connecticut offensively as the Warriors outhit the Panthers, 7-2.  Old Westbury held a slim advantage on the base path with a 3-2 edge in stolen bases. 

Stephen Chapter (1-1) suffered Old Westbury's loss, giving up three unearned runs on four hits and two walks in 4.2 innings.  Tom Darby (3-0) went the distance to earn the victory after sitting down 12 Panthers on strikes, while allowing two runs on two hits and one free pass.   

NEW JERSEY CITY GOTHIC KNIGHTS UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to the diamond on Tuesday (March 19) against the New Jersey City Gothic Knights in non-conference action from the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.  First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Jersey City, New Jersey.

For the latest news on the Panthers, log on to www.oldwestburypanthers.com – the official site for Old Westbury athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Twitter (OW_Panthers) and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (Old Westbury Panthers Athletics / Old Westbury Athletics Alumni).