Billy Dring Starts With Seven Strong innings in ECC Loss to Dowling
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 21, 2012) – Senior Billy Dring (Mahopac, N.Y.) pitched seven impressive innings before being tagged for six hard-luck runs in the eighth to pick up the loss as the Mercy College baseball team fell to Dowling College in the first east Coast Conference matchup of the season on Wednesday afternoon.
Dowling improves to 11-7 overall and starts conference play 1-0, while Mercy drops to 2-13 (0-1).
Dring looked strong on the mound early, facing the minimum through the first two innings and allowing two singles in the third but getting out of trouble with a double play. Junior centerfielder Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y.) knocked freshman designated hitter Bryan Greig (New City, N.Y.) in on a triple to deep left-center to take the lead in the second inning, but that was the only run Mercy was able to push across in the game.
Dring ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth inning, however, as hot-hitting sophomore second baseman Andrew Abreu (Lake Grove, N.Y.) singled to lead off, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. He scored on a single from junior designated hitter Sean Craig (Rocky Point, N.Y.) and sophomore left fielder Rob Veltre (Massapequa park, N.Y.), who had walked earlier, came in to score the go-ahead run on a groundout before Dring got out of the inning.
Dowling starter senior Mark Rutledge (Yaphank, N.Y.) found his groove in the bottom of the fourth inning, mowing down the side in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings and allowing just a single in the fifth. Dring also recorded a 1-2-3 fifth inning and allowed only one baserunner in the sixth and seventh innings on a walk and error, respectively.
The Golden Lions offense got to Dring as he came back out to pitch the eighth inning, putting together four straight singles with one out to load the bases for Veltre to bat two in with a single up the middle. Junior Tom Cummings (Coatesville, Pa.) came in to relieve Dring but was unable to record an out, giving up a walk to load the bases again and a single that brought two more runs in. Senior Walter Kowalczyk (Valhalla, N.Y.) came in to finally get the Mavericks out of the inning and gave up an RBI single before picking up the final two outs.
Down 7-1 after the five-run eighth inning, Mercy came close to responding in the bottom of the eighth as Head Coach Bob Greiner pinch-hit for several batters. Freshman third baseman Chris Salvo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) singled to centerfield and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but he was stranded.
Kowalczyk stayed in for the ninth inning with a plethora of defensive replacements behind him. He gave up two hits to put men on second and third with one out before being relieved by sophomore Adam Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.), who surrendered a single to Craig that brought another two runs home before picking up the final out. Rutledge sat the Mercy batters down in order the ninth to finish the complete game win.
Veltre went 1-3 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and two RBI for the Golden Lions, while Craig recorded a 2-4 day with a walk, one run scored, three RBI and two stolen bases. Sophomore third baseman Ian Schneider (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) also finished with three RBI.
Rutledge finished up with one earned run on four hits while striking out nine batters, while Dring took the loss with an unlucky six earned runs on eight hits over 7 1/3 innings in which he walked two and struck out two.
Greiner and the Mavericks will head out to Oakdale, N.Y. for a non-conference rematch with Dowling on Friday, March 23. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
