May 1, 2007

Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, NY - New Jersey Institute of Technology had won four straight baseball games heading into Tuesday afternoon's game at Wagner, but the equally hot Seahawks halted NJIT's streak with an 11-5 victory.

Wagner, which posted its fifth consecutive win, took control early, putting up three runs in each of the first two innings to build what would be the final winning margin.

The home team added another run in the fourth inning, before the Highlanders, who had not lost since April 11, got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Wagner answered with a run of its own in the sixth and moved into double figures with a three-run seventh inning.

NJIT staged a comeback in the eighth, racking up four runs to close back to within six runs, 11-5, but the Highlanders were unable to get closer.

Sixteen of the 17 hits in the game--including all eight NJIT hits--were singles. Senior 1B Austin DeRogatis (2-for-4) had the only multiple hit game for the Highlanders. He also drove in a run.

Senior leadoff man LF Derrick McCain was 1-for-2 with three walks. RF Kwesi Mitchell was 1-for-3 with two walks and scored a team-leading two runs. 2B Matt Schlitter was the RBI leader for NJIT, driving home two.

Joseph DiGeronimo, Peter Delleani and Ed Sudol all collected two hits apiece for Wagner. DiGeronimo set the tone for Wagner, driving home the first run on his school-record sixth triple of the year. The senior shortstop later scored in the Seahawks' three-run first inning.

Delleani drove in three runs, while DiGeronimo and leadoff batter Damian Czakai each drove in a pair. Wagner's top three in the order--Czakai, DiGeronimo and Delleani--combined to go 5-for-12, with seven RBI and five runs scored.

Starting pitcher Buddy Cipoletti went the first four innings for Wagner, allowing no runs, with a hit and a walk. Six relief pitchers followed.

Senior RHP Brian Ascolese (2-3) started and took the loss for NJIT. He allowed five earned runs on five hits in five innings. Mike Burgaleta allowed one earned run over the next two innings and Matt Melody and Dan Kapica combined to pitch a scoreless eighth inning for the Highlanders.

For NJIT in its four-run eighth inning, McCain and Mitchell walked, sandwiched around a fly out. Schlitter singled, driving home a run. DH Rob Pietrocola's single chased home the second run and Schlitter later came around on an error. DeRogatis singled to drive home Pietrocola before the one-out rally faded.

The Highlanders will be right back in action on Wednesday afternoon, when they visit Jersey City, NJ, for a 3:30 pm game at Saint Peter's.

Wednesday's game will be the third of four scheduled single-game dates between the schools. NJIT took the first two, played at home, while the next two are scheduled at Saint Peter's.