May 12, 2007

Game 1 Game 2

VESTAL, NY - Binghamton University showed why it is a strong contender for the America East Conference baseball championship, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology, 11-3 and 15-1, Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field on the Binghamton campus.

The Bearcats, who are first in America East with a 15-4 conference record and are 23-15 overall, have been especially hot lately. They have won eight of their last 11 after completing Saturday's sweep against NJIT.

In the first game, a nine-inning contest, the Highlanders had closed the score to 3-1 with a tally in the top of the fourth inning, but Binghamton blew the contest open with four runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. The Bearcats eventually built an 11-1 lead, before NJIT, which has featured late scoring all season, picked up two more runs in the ninth.

In the nightcap, a seven-inning game, NJIT scored first, plating a run in the first inning when C Randy Scott drove home 3B Mike Turner. Binghamton did not score in the first, but evened the score with a run in the second inning. The Bearcats went ahead for good with three runs in the fourth and then pulled away with a six-run fourth inning and then a five-run sixth.

The Highlanders faced an uphill battle from the outset in Saturday's opener, as they took on Binghamton junior right-hander Zach Groh, the 2006 America East Pitcher of the Year. Groh was recently officially tabbed on the 'Watch List' for the 2007 Roger Clemens Award, which is given annually to the nation's top college pitcher.

Groh worked the first seven innings against NJIT, lifting his season record to 6-1 with a one-hit, 10-strikeout performance. PJ Saporito, who was coming off a complete-game shutout win his last time out, started and took the loss for the Highlanders. The top winner on the NJIT pitching staff, the sophomore left-hander is now 4-5 for the year.

Binghamton 2B Matt Simek was 2-for-5, including a two-run home run that pushed the Bearcat lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Simek was one of five Bearcats to notch two hits in the opener. 3B Ryan James also homered for the home team.

NJIT got its first run of the opener in the fourth inning. RF Kwesi Mitchell reached base on a one-out error and then came around to score when DH Rob Pietrocola doubled to left center field.

The Highlanders closed out their scoring in the top of the ninth inning, when Thomas Farina, who had replaced Mitchell in right field, belted a two-run homer over the left field fence. It was the first college home run for the sophomore Farina, who hit a ball off the fence in his most recent previous at-bat when the Highlanders hosted NYIT two days ago.

NJIT got off well in the second game, as Turner singled with one out in the top of the first inning. After another out, Mitchell singled to center, advancing Turner to second base. Scott followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield, putting NJIT on top, 1-0.

Freshman LHP Bobby Wyrwa worked out of trouble in the bottom half of the inning, as Binghamton opened with a single and then got a second runner on an error. Faced with two men on base and no one out, Wyrwa got a strikeout and back-to-back groundouts to keep the lead.

Binghamton tied the score in the bottom of the second on a two-out run-scoring single by CF Henry Dunn, the ninth man in the Bearcat batting order.

The home team surged ahead, 4-1, with a three-run third inning, keyed by SS Justin Smucker's two-run double. The Bearcats poured on 11 runs in their last three at-bats to pull away. Simek again led the Binghamton hitters, driving in five more runs and finishing 2-for-4, with a pair of doubles. Smucker was 2-for-2, with two RBI and Dunn finished 3-for-4 and also drove home two runs.

NJIT got eight hits in the seven-inning nightcap, led by Mitchell, who was 2-for-3, including a double. He continues as NJIT's leading hitter on the season with a .366 batting average at the end of Saturday's twin bill. Freshman 2B Rich Nazario was 2-for-2 for the Highlanders, upping his season averaged to .267. Fellow freshman Brian Cimmet got his first college hit pinch-hitting for Nazario in the seventh inning. Farina, who started the second game in right field, stayed on track at the plate, going 1-for-3.

Wyrwa, who pitched into the fourth inning, was tagged with his second loss of the season. He was followed by four relievers. Cory Kuzmik had one scoreless inning and Dan Kapica pithched two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit or a run.

Junior LHP Scott Diamond (4-3) started and went all the way for the Bearcats, scattering eight hits and striking out four without a walk.

The Highlanders are scheduled to take on Binghamton in another doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch of the opener slated for noon.