Eagles Sweep Double Dip to Open Outdoor Complex

Patchogue, N.Y. - The men's baseball team (9-9, Skyline 5-1) celebrated the opening of the new St. Joseph's outdoor athletic complex with a sweep of the Panthers from Purchase College (10-12, Skyline 3-3). It was a day short on runs, but long on drama, as the Golden Eagles took the first contest with a walk-off win, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth.  Game two saw the Eagles top the Panthers 5-1.

The first game of the doubleheader ended in thrilling fashion.  The Eagles would go up 2-1 in the bottom of the first off RBI's by Anthony Delury (East Rockaway, N.Y./East Rockaway) and Brian Hannigan (West Babylon, N.Y/St. John the Baptist). Starter Michael Napoli (Riverhead, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) struggled to find his groove early on, but would settle in and go five innings allowing only one earned run.

The Eagles would tack on one more in the third and held a 3-1 lead going into the top of the ninth. With sophomore Jonathan Beekman (Longwood, N.Y./Ridge) on the mound in the ninth, Purchase started a two-out rally off an error by second baseman Dennis Nover (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./St. Francis Prep). A two-RBI single off reliever Seth Pileggi (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown Christian) would tie the score at three going into the bottom of the ninth.

St. Joseph's, however, wasn't fazed and started their own rally in the ninth. Hannigan led off with a single and steal of second base.  A sacrifice fly by Thomas Rubinstein (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) advanced Hannigan to third with only one out left in the game. Purchase then intentionally walked the next two batters and a foul out would put two outs on the board. Pinch-hitter Rich Pecoraro (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays), battling illness, then got the opportunity every baseball player dreams of, coming up with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.  Pecoraro singled to deep left driving in the walk-off game-winning run giving the Eagles the 4-3 and was then mobbed by his teammates as they celeberated the clutch hit.

The second game would be less dramatic, but effective all the same. Starter Robert Hyde (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) pitched a complete-game, going seven innings, striking out five, and didn't allow his first hit until the fifth inning.

Brian Hannigan would add two more RBI's to his day's total on a triple to left field. Senior third baseman James Carey (Patchogue, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) would go 2-for-3 while driving in the Eagles first run of the game on an RBI single in the bottom of the second. Purchase never closed the gap as the Eagles cruised to the 5-1 victory.

Up next for the Golden Eagles is a non-conference game against Baruch (9-8) on Thursday, March 29 at 4:00 p.m.