Panthers Quiet Eagles, Remain Atop Skyline

Purchase, N.Y. – The Purchase Panthers (12-9, Skyline 6-0) swept the St. Joseph's College baseball team (9-12, Skyline 5-3) with wins of 8-3 and 2-1, to remain in sole possession of first place in the Skyline Conference. This is the first time the Golden Eagles have lost to the Panthers.

St. Joseph's scored early in the opening game, plating a run off an RBI-single by designated hitter Dan Diblasi (Lidenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst). The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Panthers tied it up off an RBI-single.

The Eagles regained the lead in the top of the next inning from a double-steal by Diblasi and catcher Mike Alisio (Westbury, N.Y. / W.T. Clarke).  But Purchase again answered with two more in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

The Eagles managed to put a rally together starting off the top of the eighth. Center fielder Brian Hannigan (West Babylon, N.Y. / St. John Baptist) led off with a single, then advanced to third on the next at-bat on a double by Alisio. Kenny Willms (Centereach, N.Y. / Centereach) then struck out, but Diblasi walked right after to load the bases.  Left fielder Eric Florin (Apex, N.C / Middle Creek) walked to bring in the tying run. That's as far as St. Joseph's got, with the next two batters popping up and grounding out, respectively.

Purchase pulled away in the bottom of the eighth. With freshman Chris Rubin (Nesconset, N.Y. / Smithtown East) on the mound, the Panthers put together a one out rally to score five runs and take a commanding 8-3 lead heading into the last inning and eventually held on for the victory.

St. Joseph's starter Robert Hyde (West Babylon, N.Y. / West Babylon) pitched five innings, allowing one earned run off three hits and two walks, while striking out four. Rubin pitched 2.1 innings allowing six earned runs and picked up the first loss of his collegiate career.

The second game featured another game dominated by good pitching.  Steve Szobesky (Seaford, N.Y. / Seaford) took the bump for St. Joseph's and pitched a great game; allowing two earned runs over seven and a third, giving up nine hits, walking two, while fanning seven. Unfortunately, lack of run support led to his fourth loss of the season.

Purchase jumped out in front this time, scoring one in the bottom of the first from an RBI single. The Eagles finally got on the board in the top of the seventh with an RBI single by first baseman Thomas Rubenstein (Patchogue, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford). With the score being tied 1-1, the game headed to extras. In the bottom of the eighth, Szobesky managed to strike out the first batter, but then a double and a stolen base on the next at-bat put a runner on third with only one out. He then walked the next batter setting up the double-play ball, but instead the Purchase centerfielder singles bringing home the winning run.

St. Joseph's next opponent is the Roadrunners of Ramapo College (16-3) at home on Wednesday April 10^th at 4:00 p.m.