Baseball Ninth Inning Rally Forces Extra Innings in Non-Conference Action Against Caldwell
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 9, 2014) – Senior Ken Post (Closter, N.J. / St. Joseph's Regional) went 3-for-6 and singled to score fellow classmate Michael Dern (Roslyn, N.Y. / Valley Stream North) as the Mercy College baseball team completed a ninth-inning three-run rally to force extra innings against the Cougars of Caldwell College.
The Mavericks fell, 9-7 in 11 innings, and are now 9-14 overall, while the Cougars improve to 3-15 overall.
Caldwell took a 4-0 lead with the Mavericks coming to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Post singled, advanced to third on a single by junior Chris Salvo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y. / Lakeland) and then scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 4-1. Salvo advanced to second on the passed ball and then advanced to third on singled by junior Joseph Gismondi (East Meadow, N.Y. / East Meadow). Mercy then cut the Cougars lead to 4-2 as junior Sal Palumbo (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford) singled to score Salvo from third.
Caldwell took a 6-2 lead after runs in the fifth and the seventh innings. The Mavericks cut the lead to 6-4 as junior Blake Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y. / Middletown [Orange CC]) singled and then stole second, scoring on an RBI single by freshman Dan Cleary (Smithtown, N.Y. / St. Anthony's).
After the Hasbrouck score, Post singled to set up runners at first and third base. The Cougars made a pitching change with sophomore Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck, N.Y. / Mamaroneck [SUNY Binghamton]) coming to bat. During Hagan's at-bat, Cougars pitcher Zach Endersby balked to score Cleary from third.
Caldwell answered by scoring one run in the top of the eighth and held that lead until the last licks in the bottom of the ninth. Mercy had runners at first and second as Palumbo walked and senior Brendan Siegriest (Nanuet, N.Y. / Nanuet) was by a pitch.
Dern then singled to score Palumbo, cutting the lead to 7-5 with no outs. Hasbrouck singled to short to score Palumbo and pull within one at 7-6. Caldwell would make two pitching changes and record the first out in the process. Post then stepped to the plate and hit a RBI single to score Dern and tie the game at 7-7. The Cougars were able to force extra innings, as the Mavericks grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the top of 11th, Caldwell loaded the bases and then doubled to score two runs, which proved to be the difference for the Cougars.
For Mercy, Cleary, Salvo, Palumbo and Hasbrouck all finished with two hits. Junior Kevin Rocco (Nanuet, N.Y. / Nanuet [Rockland CC]) struck out eight batters in four innings of work.
Head Coach Bob Greiner and the Mavericks return to action tomorrow, Thursday, April, 10, as they travel to Pleasantville, N.Y. to face the Setters of Pace University at 3:00 p.m.
