Mariners Spoil Eagles Senior Night

Patchogue, N.Y. - The St. Joseph's College men's baseball team (19-19) lost to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (20-12). The Mariners spoiled St. Joseph's senior night by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, for the 7-6 victory.

St. Joseph's honored its seven seniors: Dennis Nover (Fresh Meadows, N.Y. / St. Francis Prep), Joe Reinhardt (Wantagh, N.Y. / Wantagh), Prateek Thaman (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppauge), Jason Dierkes (Mt. Sinai, N.Y. / Mt. Sinai), Charles Zilnicki (Riverhead, N.Y. / Riverhead), Rich Pecoraro (Hampton Bays, N.Y. / Hampton Bays), and James Carey (Patchogue, N.Y. / St. John the Baptist).

The Eagles scored early, in the bottom of the second, from an error by the pitcher. The Mariners got on the board in the top of the fourth, but St. Joseph's answered back with four in the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, with the bases loaded, Nover would unload them with the first Eagles homerun at the new complex and the first of his collegaite career.

After a few more scattered runs, the Golden Eagles went into the top of the ninth up 6-4. The Mariners started a one-out rally with a string of walks and singles from pitcher Steve Szobesky (Seaford, N.Y. / Seaford). USMMA ended up scoring three in the top of the ninth to go up 7-6, and held on for the victory.

For Senior Day, Dierkes got the start for St. Joseph's, but with the playoffs looming, only faced one batter. Joe Reinhardt would relieve him and pitched six strong innings, allowing three runs, one earned run, and only nine base runners. Nover finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBI's and a stolen base to boost his season total to 39. Centerfielder Brian Hannigan (West Babylon, N.Y. / St. John the Baptist) went 3-for-5 with a stolen base as well.

The next game for St. Joseph's is the opening round of the Skyline Conference Tournament with a play-in game against the, #6 seeded, Privateers of SUNY Maritime (17-15, Skyline 6-10).