UAlbany Rallies to Split America East Conference Doubleheader With Vermont

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Freshman David Kubiak tossed a complete game and senior Mike Konstanty drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth to lead UAlbany to an America East Conference baseball doubleheader split with Vermont on Saturday, April 26 at Varsity Field. Vermont rallied for a 6-5 win in nine innings in game one, while the Great Danes rallied for a 6-4 win in seven innings in the nightcap.

In game two, the Catamounts opened a 4-0 lead through four innings. In the second frame, Jeff Nolet reached on an infield single. Following two outs, Nolet scored as Brad Currier reached on a throwing error. Justin Milo and Matt Duffy doubled around a pair of outs to score a run. The Catamounts tallied their final two runs in the fourth inning. Kyle Massie, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, tallied the first run on a passed ball. Milo then recorded a run-scoring triple to plate Currier, who reached on the passed ball on a swinging third strike.

UAlbany (11-30-1, AE 6-9) responded by scoring six times over its next three at-bats. Konstanty singled and Ryan Gugel walked to lead off the fourth inning. Following a successful sacrifice bunt by Gary Pitcheralle and a strikeout, senior Tom Zink lined a two-run single to left field to score Konstanty and Gugel. In the fifth, junior Dave West reached on a throwing error to open the inning. Konstanty then doubled down the right field line to plate West, who had advanced to third on a groundout and a passed ball.

The Great Danes took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Sean Donovan reached on an error and West singled with one out to start the rally. Sophomore Brendan Rowland followed with a single down the right field line to plate Donovan. As Konstanty reached on a fielder’s choice, West raced home from third with the go-ahead run. Gugel then laced a triple down the right field line to drive in Konstanty.

In game one, the Great Danes tallied two runs in the first inning and built a 5-1 lead through six innings. Gugel singled up the middle with one out to plate West, who singled and stole second. Following a wild pitch, Konstanty recorded a sacrifice fly down the right field line to knock in Rowland, who walked following West’s single. UAlbany tacked on its third run of the contest in the fifth inning. Freshman Kyle Crean was hit by a pitch to open the frame and moved to third on a sac bunt and a passed ball. West then singled to center to drive in Crean.

Vermont (19-16, AE 5-6) broke through in the sixth with a run on two hits. Mark Micowski and Justin Milo each singled with one out. Miguel Magrass then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Micowski. The Great Danes answered back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gugel was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and stole third to start the frame. Konstanty followed with a double to left center to score Gugel. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Konstanty scored three batters later as Crean registered a sac fly down the right field line for a 5-1 lead.

The Catamounts rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Ethan Paquette and Kyle Henry hit back-to-back doubles to open the frame. Following consecutive strikeouts and a wild pitch, Currier singled through the left side to score Henry and cut their deficit to 5-3. After Dave Noble took over on the mound for starter Josh Willimott, Milo singled to center to drive in Frank Petroskey, who pinch ran for Currier. Magrass then greeted Sean Gregory with a single to center to score Micowski, who walked before Milo’s single, with the game-tying run. UAlbany loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning on singles by Donovan and Rowland and an intentional walk to Konstanty, but could not produce a run, forcing extra innings.

Vermont scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning on two hits and an error. Milo singled up the middle with one out. After another UAlbany pitching change, Magrass singled though the right side. Two batters later, Paquette reached on a fielding error, allowing Milo to cross the plate from second.

Gregory suffered the loss for the Great Danes, allowing an unearned run over 1.2 innings. Willimott tossed the first 6.2 innings, striking out six, while allowing four runs. Tom Kelly picked up the win for Vermont, pitching three scoreless innings of relief. Kubiak earned his second win of the season in the nightcap, yielding four runs (one earned), while striking out four in his complete-game effort. Kelly took the loss for the Catamounts, giving up three unearned runs in 1.1 innings. UAlbany and Vermont close out the four-game series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.


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Game One
Vermont (19-15, AE 5-5) 000 001 401 - 6 13 3
UAlbany (10-30-1, AE 5-9) 200 012 000 - 5 7 3

Vermont: Keith Rakus, Tom Kelly (7, W) and Jason Leclerc, Jeff Nolet (7).
UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Dave Noble (7), Sean Gregory (7, L, 3-5), Casey Walsh (9) and Ryan Gugel.

Game Two
Vermont (19-16, AE 5-6) 011 200 0 - 4 8 2
UAlbany (11-30-1, AE 6-9) 000 213 X - 6 8 1

Vermont: Eric Thompson, Tom Kelly (5, L) and Jeff Nolet.
UAlbany: Dave Kubiak (W, 2-0) and Tom Zink.