University of Albany's Mike Konstanty Sets Single-Season Home Run Record as Baseball Sweeps New York Tech: UAlbany Athletics

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Mike Konstanty blasted a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break the program’s single-season home run record to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of New York Tech in non-conference baseball action on Saturday, May 10 at Varsity Field. The Great Danes took game one, 7-3, and won the nightcap, 8-3.

UAlbany (14-35-1) opened a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning of the first game. Following lead-off walks to Kyle Crean and Zac Halloran and a pop out, junior Gary Pitcheralle recorded an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error, allowing Crean to score. After a groundout, sophomore Brendan Rowland blasted a three-run shot to right field for his ninth homer of the season. Konstanty followed with a single, stole second and was forced in after three consecutive walks.

Following three scoreless innings, Donovan singled with one out in the seventh. Two batters later, Konstanty blasted his 13th homer of the season to left center to give the Great Danes a 7-0 lead. The previous record of 12 was established by Steve Checksfield in 2000. New York Tech (16-27-2) brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but junior Sean Gregory induced a fly out to end the frame. Joe Lucente opened the inning with an infield single. Following consecutive walks to load the bases, pinch-runner Eric Cos scored on a wild pitch. After a UAlbany pitching change, Brian Smith drove in Greg Gilroy from third with a double down the right field line. Bob Garland added NYIT’s third run as he scored on a groundout. A hit batsman and walk loaded the bases before Gregory retired Christian Dienna.

In game two, Rowland gave the Great Danes a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run single down the left field line, driving in Pitcheralle and Donovan, who singled and walked, respectively. The Bears answered back with three runs in the top of the second. Effrey Valdez led off the frame with a single up the middle. Following a pair of outs, Gilroy doubled to the gap in left center to plate Valdez. Dienna then tripled to left center to knock in Gilroy. An ensuing passed ball allowed Dienna to score.

UAlbany evened the scored in the bottom of the second and scored five times in the third and fourth innings for the win. Pete Eichner knotted the score at three with a solo blast to lead off the second. In the third, Konstanty doubled to right center to open the frame and came around to score on a wild pitch and a throwing error on the catcher. The Great Danes put the game away with four runs in the fourth. A single by Jamie Liebowitz, a double by Eichner and a walk to Pitcheralle loaded the bases with no outs. Donovan walked to force in Liebowitz before Rowland reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error, allowing Eichner and Pitcheralle to score. Two batters later, Ryan Gugel singled to right field to drive in Rowland from third.

Junior Josh Willimott tossed seven scoreless innings, while striking out seven, in game one to pick up his team-high fifth win of the season. Gregory picked up his third save of the season by recording one out in the ninth. Andrew Guarrasi suffered the loss for the Bears, yielding five runs on four hits over five innings. In game two, freshman David Kubiak struck out four over six innings to register his fourth victory of the year. Preston Wasmund took the loss in relief in the nightcap, allowing six runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings. Rowland registered six runs batted in on the afternoon, while Konstanty had three hits and three runs scored.

The Great Danes and the Bears will wrap up their three-game non-conference series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. UAlbany will honor its five members of the class of 2008 prior to the first pitch.

-agate-
Game One
NYIT (16-26-2) 000 000 003 - 3 10 2
UAlbany (13-35-1) 005 000 20X - 7 6 0

NYIT: Andrew Guarrasi (L), Louie Bernardi (6) and George Carroll.
UAlbany: Josh Willimott (w, 5-3), Chris Ott (8), Hunter Moffatt (9), Sean Gregory (9, S, 3) and Ryan Gugel.



Game Two
NYIT (16-27-2) 030 000 0 - 3 9 2
UAlbany (14-35-1) 211 400 X - 8 7 1

NYIT: Eric Johnson, Preston Wasmund (1, L), Bobby Tesseyman (5), Chris Colleran (6) and Greg Gilroy.
UAlbany: David Kubiak (W, 4-0), Matthew Herrick (7) and Ryan Gugel.