The University baseball team dropped a three game series to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponent Saint Peter’s Peacocks, at Jersey City, NJ this past weekend.
The Hawks now stand at 7-15, 4-3 in the MAAC while SPU improved to 7-20, 2-6 in league play.
The series began with a double header thrown by senior left hander Andrew McGee and junior righty TJ Hunt.
Twelve hits from the offense and McGee’s strong arm secured MU the first game.
McGee completed 8.2 innings allowing six runs, one of which was earned, on nine hits and striking out eight. Junior Jeff Paglione picked up his third save of the season. Receiving the loss was SPU’s Zach Hopf who worked 6.2 innings giving up two runs, one which was earned, on six hits.
Leading MU’s offense in the game was senior second baseman Jake Gronsky who went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Freshman designated hitter Grant Lamberton and senior first baseman Danny Avella each had two hits in the game and two RBI’s.
The scoring began in the third when the teams exchanged a pair of runs making the score 1-1. SPU then pulled ahead in the fifth courtesy of Sean Henry hitting a double and then scoring on an error.
Avella reciprocated with an RBI single in the top of the sixth to plate Gronsky and tie the game at two.
The Hawks scored three runs in the eighth giving the team a 5-2 advantage. Sweeney furthered MU’s lead in the ninth after he hit an opposite-field grand slam. The home run counted for Sweeney’s second in a one week span.
Riled with determination, SPU tried to play catch up with the Hawks, but could only secure five runs off MU senior southpaw Stephen Frey and the game ended with a final score of 9-7.
After a half hour, the teams were back on the field for game two, a contest which SPU won with a score of 7-6.
Hunt tossed 4.1 innings and allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on four hits and three walks. Hunt also struck out six in the process. Sophomore left hander Frank Trimarco surrendered SPU’s final two runs on two hits and one walk in the fifth.
MU originally held the advantage after a first inning double to right from Sweeney which scored senior outfielder Joe Bamford. They extended the gap in the third with Avella who swung for a base hit to bring Gronsky home.
The Peacocks scored in the bottom of the third, but MU plated another two in the top of the fourth. Bamford provided MU with the first run of the fourth after a RBI single plated freshman catcher Connor White. Guida and Bamford performed a double steal, where Guida stole home, giving MU a 4-1 lead.
Saint Peter’s managed to score six runs in the fifth on six hits and an MU error making it a 7-4 game.
The Hawks came close to tying in the sixth with four consecutive hits, however, they were only able to bring home two runs and the game ended at 7-6, SPU’s favor.
With the series tied at one game apiece, junior right hander Chris McKenna was given the start. McKenna, whose last start was a complete game win against Marist, suffered his second loss of the season after throwing 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on ten hits.
The Hawks were led offensively by Lamberton who went 2-for-4 with four RBI’s.
MU took an early three run lead in the first after junior outfielder Steve Wilgus reached base on an error. Gronsky and Sweeney were then put on the base path via walks.
After Avella struck out, Lamberton hit a single to right scoring both Wilgus and Gronsky. Sweeney gave MU their final run of the inning by stealing home plate.
SPU jumped back in the bottom of the first with four runs thanks to Rob Moore’s three run home run to right field. One batter later, Jim Smith homered to left.
At the end of the first, the score read 4-3 SPU.
Neither team scored until the third inning when Lamberton once again knocked in Sweeney from third and Avella from second off a double to left giving the Hawks a one run advantage.
Saint Peter’s pulled ahead in the fourth by scoring three runs on four hits and one error.
Hugg gained his first RBI of the day after he hit a single through left to score Kyle Grimes from third. Smith then singled to plate Hugg. After Smith advanced to second on a throwing error, head coach Dean Ehehalt replaced McKenna with junior right hander Charlie Battis. The righty surrendered a RBI triple against his first batter faced, giving SPU their final run of the inning.
The game remained at a standstill until the seventh inning when the teams exchanged one run. MU scored after Avella hit a double to center to score Gronsky who also hit a double to center. Saint Peter’s Jon Kristoffersen hit a RBI triple to center sending Mike Wulff home.
The final run of the game came from MU in the eighth. Gronsky hit a single up the middle to score Bamford who reached base on a throwing error.
The Hawks had a total of 24 runners left on base during the series compared to SPU’s 26 total.
“Although our record may not indicate how talented of a team we are, I believe we are making progress that will eventually lead to success,” Battis said.
The baseball team will next play the Princeton Tigers (9-14) in Princeton, NJ on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 pm.
They will then travel to Riverdale, NY to face the Manhattan Jaspers (2-7 MAAC) in a three game series. Manhattan is 2-2 with home field advantage.
PHOTO COURTESY of Jim Reme
