Rookie Bryan Greig Homers and Posts Quality Start in ECC Loss to STAC
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (April 29, 2012) – Freshman Bryan Greig (New City, N.Y.) shouldered a rare double load as both the Mavericks' starting pitcher and designated hitter and managed both a quality start and home run in a 10-3 loss to East Coast Conference foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Sunday afternoon.
STAC improves to 30-15 overall and 15-5 in the ECC while Mercy drops to 6-35 (4-19).
The Spartans got on the board early in the first inning as junior centerfielder Nicholas Barbalato (Mahopac, N.Y.) doubled off the wall in right-center, scoring a run, but was thrown out attempting to stretch it into a triple. In the next inning, junior designated hitter Mike Russo (Boca Raton, Fla.) smashed a solo home run to make the score 2-0 and STAC added another run in the fourth inning.
It took Mercy until the third inning to get its first runner on base and in the fourth the Mavericks finally scored its first runs as sophomore shortstop Jeremy Lovera (Carmel, N.Y.) led off with a single and advanced to third on the next at-bat only for Greig to send a two-run shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit back to one.
The pitchers dueled evenly over the next two innings before STAC got back on the board, pushing four runs across in the top of the seventh, another on a bases-loaded single in the eighth and a final pair in the ninth.
Mercy was not out of it yet, though, as the Mavericks led off the bottom of the ninth with a pair of singles before sophomore left fielder Michael Dern (Roslyn, N.Y.) stole third and scored on the catcher's throwing error. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they were unable to get anything else going and fell by seven.
Greig finished the day 1-3 with a run, two RBI and a walk while first baseman Jesus Jaile (Hartsdale, N.Y.) was 2-3. Greig was also tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs (only three earned) on eight hits, four walks and two hit-by-pitches while striking out four batters over 6 1/3 innings.
Russo led the Spartans with a perfect 4-4 day that included two runs and three RBI while junior shortstop Frank Salerno (New City, N.Y.) was 2-6 with two runs, Barbalato went 2-4 with a double, run and two RBI and junior second baseman Andrew Romanella (Allentown, N.J.) was a perfect 2-2 as a substitute. Senior Joe Ferrara (Congers, N.Y.) picked up the win as he surrendered just two earned runs on six hits and two walks while punching out four over 7 2/3 innings and junior Joe DePool (New City, N.Y.) finished things off, giving up one hit and striking out two in one inning of work.
Head Coach Bob Greiner and the Mavericks will look to snap their losing streak in a doubleheader at Nyack College (21-21) tomorrow, Monday, April 30. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
