ATLANTA, Ga. (March 17, 2018)  – Sophomore Chandler Brierley pitched no-hit baseball for 5 2-3 innings and the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team scored five times in the first en route to an 11-4 victory over Middlebury College Saturday in a non-conference game played at Emory University's Chappell Park.

It was the second meeting in eight days for the programs, who had not met before the 2018 season. Stevens has topped the Panthers in both meetings.

Senior Tommy Baronner tripled and drove in a run for Stevens, who improved to 5-8.

Justin Han drove in two for Middlebury, who fell to 1-3. The Panthers were in Atlanta for a two-game series with Emory. The Ducks were bested by the Eagles on Friday.

"Our offense got rolling right from the get-go and we were able to put up a five-run first," said head coach Kristaps Aldins. "Chandler pitched very well with the lead and challenged their hitters with strikes all day. Overall, it was a satisfying team win and a nice way to end our trip and segue into tomorrow's home game versus NCJU."

Stevens sent eight batters to the plate in the opening inning. Colby Morris (1-1) hit Baronner to lead off the game. The leadoff hitter has reached base safely in 12 of 13 contests this season. A fielding error allowed junior Matthew Pasko to reach and an infield single off the bat of freshman Thomas Paulich loaded the bases. Senior Alex Detweiler singled through the left side to score Baroner and keep the bases loaded. Sophomore Patrick Rood became the fifth batter of the inning to reach when third baseman Andrew Hennings second fielding error of the inning. The bases would clear when left fielder Andrew Corcoran uncorked a wild throw handing Stevens a 4-0 lead. Junior Donny Gherardi plated the fifth run of the inning with an RBI groundout.

The Ducks increased their lead in the second on Pasko's RBI groundout. 

Armed with a six-run lead in his first career start, Brierley (1-1) quickly became the story as the pitcher flirted with a no-hitter. The lanky lefty made quick work of the Middlebury lineup, striking out four batters over the first three innings and finished with a career-high nine punchouts on the afternoon. The Ridgewood, New Jersey native was chasing history when Hennings drove Brierley's sixth-inning, two-out offering into center for Middlebury's first hit of the game. The hurler retired Han on a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The Ducks added four runs in the eighth against two Middlebury pitchers. Gherardi walked leading off the frame and three straight hit-by-pitches forced in the first run. Baronner grounder easily scored pinch-runner Raymond Cortes III and the Stevens designated hitter reached on Hayden Smith's throwing error. Cortes' run was the first of his collegiate career. Hennings misplayed Pasko's grounder for his third error of the game, allowing freshmen Nathan Zuckerman and Ambrose Consol to score, giving Stevens their largest lead of the year at 11-0.

Middlebury scored three runs in the eighth off freshman Eli Zuckerman and once in the ninth off freshman Alex Smith to provide the final margin.

Up Next: The Ducks welcome New Jersey City University to the DeBaun Athletic Complex for a non-conference matchup.

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