Baseball Falls To USMMA, 11-5, In Non-Conference Matchup

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information) 

Kings Point, NY| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) baseball team suffers a 11-5 setback to US Merchant Marine in a non-conference matchup on Thursday afternoon at Lower Roosevelt Field. The Golden Eagles slide to 9-6 on the year as USMMA improves to 5-13.

Anthony Bonilla led off the game with a single to centerfield, James Nakashian bunted him over to advance him into scoring position. Nick Girardi singled next at-bat and stole second as Brendan Sullivan came to bat with two runners in scoring position. Sullivan singled to left field to bring plate both Girardi and Bonilla for the 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, with runners in scoring position, St. Joseph's capitalized on a fielding error that brought in two runs to increase the Golden Eagles lead 4-0.

USMMA would score its first run of the game, when Nick Girardi hit a batter, in the bottom of the second to trail 4-1.

After three scoreless innings, Girardi would drive in Nakashian to plate across the fifth run for the Golden Eagles.

The Mariners cut the deficit 5-2 after Alex Gambino scored on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

USMMA inched back within one (5-4) with a two-run double by Jeff Suciu in the bottom frame of the seventh. The Mariners would score an additional two runs to take a 6-5 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth the Golden Eagles found themselves in a bases loaded, Gambino singled through the right side as the Mariners took a 7-5 lead.  A three-run triple would pull the hosts away with an 11-5 win.

Nick Girardi had a 3-for-4 day as he drove in a run and scored one.

Rick Garrett and his team will return home to take on NJCU for a Sunday morning matinee at Gregg Alfano Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11 AM.