Baseball Falls to New York Tech in Non-Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior centerfielder Denton Neill went 4-for-6 with a double and a stolen base to lead New York Tech to a 15-5 win over UAlbany in non-conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field.

New York Tech had taken a 5-0 lead into the fourth behind singles by Neill in the second and third innings. George Carroll added an RBI single in the second inning to score two runs while Christian Dienna knocked a base hit through the right side in the third that scored Neill. Sebastian Grazziani hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Bears the five run lead.

UAlbany scored four runs in the fourth to cut the NYIT lead to one. Gary Pitcheralle was hit by a pitch and advanced on a single by Brendan Rowland. The Great Danes loaded the bases when NYIT pitcher Louie Bernardi hit Ryan Gugel with a pitch. Pitcheralle scored the first run on a ground out by Dave West, and Rowland crossed home on a fly out by Mike Tirri. After Kyle Crean drew a walk, Pete Eichner smacked a double down the right field line to score the next two runs for the Great Danes.

NYIT held UAlbany without another run until the eighth, but added three to the visitor’s side of the scoreboard in the sixth. Ryan Campbell hit an RBI single, stole third and later scored on a passed ball. The Bears added another run in the inning, taking advantage of a UAlbany error that allowed Brian Smith to score. The Great Danes put a single run up in the bottom of the eighth, as Pitcheralle made it home on a ground out by West.

The Bears exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth. Effrey Valdez led off the frame with a solo homer over the left field fence. Dienna made it home when Carroll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Campbell and Smith both drove in runs in the inning and Neill added an RBI double. Dienna was responsible for two more runs in his second at bat of the inning with a single through the right side that scored Neill and Campbell.

Bernardi earned the win on the mound for NYIT (17-24), going five innings with two strikeouts. Dave Kubiak took the loss for the Great Danes, striking out three in four innings of work, while allowing four earned runs. Seven other pitchers saw action for UAlbany, while John Eichhorn made a four-inning appearance for the Bears, fanning three.

UAlbany (21-26) will host NYIT in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon and will conclude the four-game series on Sunday.