Baseball Charges Past Dowling, 8-2
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (March 25, 2010) – Seniors Mike Callaghan (East Meadow, N.Y.) and Brian Anderson (Nesconset, N.Y.) and freshman Casey McKay (North Massapequa, N.Y.) drove in two runs apiece as the Pioneers came away with a 8-2 road win at Dowling College on a blustery Thursday afternoon in East Coast Conference baseball action.
Senior pitcher Bobby Kay (Stony Brook, N.Y.) earned the win and improved to 3-0 on the season.
The Pioneers improve to 7-6-1 overall and 5-1 in ECC player, while Dowling slips to 9-7 overall and 4-2 in conference action.
Dowling took a 1-0 lead in the first as Eddie Squeri (Shirley, N.Y.) and Daniel Pembroke (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.) roped back-to-back doubles.
The Golden Lions held the lead all the way into the fifth inning before the Pioneers broke out for a 2-1 lead. Sophomore designated hitter Nick Compito (Syosset, N.Y.) singled up the middle and moved to second on a groundout and third on an infield single by senior Kyle Dean (Southbury, Conn.). Compito scored on a subsequent throwing error by the Dowling pitcher and Dean advanced to second. McKay followed with a single up the middle that score Dean for the go-ahead run.
In the sixth, the Pioneers picked up another run on an RBI single by Callaghan that scored freshman Zack Graczyk (Carmel, N.Y.) from third.
Another two runs in the seventh put the Pioneers on top 5-1, with McKay singling in one run and a Graczyk sacrifice fly plating another.
Dowling scored one in the eighth as Sean Craig (Rocky Point, N.Y.) singled up the middle. Following a single by Squeri, and another by Pembroke to load the bases, senior Brian Saldana (Deer Park, N.Y.) came on in relief. He got Colin Barnathan (Massapequa, N.Y.) to ground into an RBI fielder's choice, and then induced another groundout by Ralph Tufano (Staten Island, N.Y.) to end the inning with minimal damage.
C.W. Post would score three more times in the ninth, capped by another Callaghan RBI single and an Anderson single to center field that plated two runs.
Kay had a strong outing on the mound, throwing 7.1 innings, scattering eight hits and giving up two runs while striking out two. Saldana gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings of relief to earn the save.
Compito paced the Pioneers at the plate with a 3-for-4 day, scoring two runs. MCKay and Callaghan each added two hits apiece and Graczyk scored two runs and drove in another.
Marc Rutledge (Ridge, N.Y.) gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks as he took the loss for the Golden Lions.
The Pioneers face off against Dowling tomorrow, Friday, March 26, in a 3 p.m. contest in Brookville, N.Y.