Baseball Claws Old Westbury Panthers to Remain Perfect in Skyline

Patchogue, N.Y. – St. Joseph's came back from three runs down in the ninth inning of game one, 5-4, and cruised to a 4-1 win in game two to complete a doubleheader sweep of Old Westbury on Saturday afternoon. With the two wins, St. Joseph's takes firm control of first place in the Skyline Conference with an unblemished 6-0 record (11-9 overall) and Old Westbury falls to 3-3 Skyline (11-7 overall).

Old Westbury starter Tim Ingram (4-2) cruised for 8.1 innings until his defense betrayed him in the ninth by dropping two fly balls in the outfield, opening the door for SJC to score four runs in their final turn at bat.  Joseph Lynn (1-for-2, R, 2 BB) drew a one-out walk before Old Westbury centerfielder Jonathan Pagan's two-base error moved runners into scoring position.  James Nakashian (1-for-5, 2 RBI) then blasted a two-run double to left center.  Panther leftfielder Nick Yip then committed a two-base error which scored Nakashian for the game-tying run to end Ingram's day.  Brendan Sullivan (2-for-5, RBI) then reached on an error by Pagan to position runners at the corners.  Reliever Justin Mize intentionally walked Joseph Calabrese to load the bases for Anthony Andreani (1-for-4, RBI), who singled to score Nick Girardi (3-for-5, R) for the game-winning run. 

The Panthers had jumped out early with two runs in the first and then two later in the sixth for what seemed a comfortable cushion.  SJC got a run in the third on a Sullivan hit to drive in Anthony Bonilla (2-for-5, 2 R).

SJC starter Ryan Aloise pitched six innings, allowed four earned run, seven hits, two walks and struck out four.  Matt Mills (1-1) followed him with three scoreless innings allowing only two walks and striking out two, to get credit for the win.

In game two, Josh Outsen took command to better his record to 3-1, with a seven-inning complete game.  He gave up only one earned run, six hits and two walks and struck out two. 

A Nakashian homer put the Golden Eagles in front in the bottom of the first.  Bonilla (1-for-3, 3 RBI) stepped up in the second with a two-run single to left to score James Terry (walk) and Andreani (reached on an error).  Another Bonilla RBI came in the fourth as he hit a sacrifice fly bringing around Ryan Walsh, who had singled and advanced on a Lynn bunt and an Old Westbury error.

Old Westbury made it interesting in the top of the seventh by loading the bases, but Outsen wiggled out of bigger trouble by only allowing one run.

St. Joseph's has a quick turnaround as they travel to Purchase (7-7, 4-2 SKY) tomorrow to face them in a Skyline doubleheader starting at noon.