Baseball Drops Non-Conference Tilt to NYIT on Senior Day

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore third baseman Effery Valdez went 4-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBI to lead New York Tech to a 14-7 win over UAlbany in the finale of a four-game non-conference baseball series on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Field. The Great Danes honored their 11 graduating seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

NYIT jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the third and four in the fourth. Valdez recorded his first RBI single of the game in the third, and later scored on a UAlbany fielding error. Sebastian Grazziani also scored a run for the Bears in the frame. In the fourth, Ryan Campbell and Brian Smith knocked out back-to-back singles before Denton Neill hit a double into right center that scored the baserunners. Valdez drove a homer over the right field wall to score Neill and give NYIT a 7-0 lead.

UAlbany broke the shutout with one run in the fourth. Left fielder Gary Pitcheralle scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rowland. NYIT added three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to gain a commanding lead. After Neill sent Smith home with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, Valdez drove a double into left center. The Bears loaded the bases and Valdez added a second run as he came home on a hit by pitch. Christian Dienna added the third run in the frame, getting driven in by catcher George Carroll.

In the seventh, Smith hit a double down the left field line to score Campbell, who led off the inning with a base hit. Valdez was hit by a pitch to reach base and was later driven across home on an Eric Cos single. Dienna also hit a double in the inning to score Smith.

After giving up one run in the top of the ninth, the Great Danes attempted to mount a comeback in the final inning. Ryan Gugel and Dave West hit consecutive singles and UAlbany loaded the bases as Chris Bouchard drew a walk off reliever Steve Faulkner. Gugel crossed home on a ground out by Mike Tirri, and the Great Danes kept the bases juiced as designated hitter Ralph Keppler was walked. With two outs, Joe Ilacqua knocked out a base hit to score West, before Pitcheralle hit a double into left center to send all three baserunners home. Pitcheralle was responsible for the final UAlbany run as well, scoring on an RBI double by Sean Donovan.

Andrew Guarassi earned the win for NYIT (18-25-21), going 8.1 innings while striking out two. UAlbany used a staff of six seniors for the final home game of the season. Starter Cory Warrings took the loss on the mound, going four innings and striking out two. Each of the remaining pitchers tossed one inning each, with all recording at least one strikeout.

UAlbany (22-27-1) will conclude the regular season over the weekend, visiting Harford for a four-game America East Conference series, starting on Friday.