Baseball Rallies Past American International, 5-4
Box Score
LANTANA, Fla. (March, 14, 2013) – The LIU Post baseball team scored a pair of runs in the seventh and pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to back a strong relief effort by senior pitcher Bo Budkevics (Deer Park, N.Y.) and rally the Pioneers to a 5-4 comeback victory over American International College on the final day of baseball action in Florida.
The Pioneers improve to 6-8 on the season while AIC drops to 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets scored a run in the top of the first, but the Pioneers countered with an RBI single by sophomore Anthony Brunetti (Bayville, N.Y.).
AIC reclaimed the lead in the second with an RBI single by Chris Amate, but the Pioneers again knotted the score in the bottom of the third as sophomore Vinny Iacono (Nesconset, N.Y.) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on Brunetti's infield single.
But the Yellow Jackets surged ahead again, getting to starter Christian Stancavage (West Islip, N.Y.) for two more runs and getting into the Pioneers bullpen.
But Budkevics came in a did an outstanding job, keeping the Yellow Jackets scoreless and hitless through five and a third, striking out 11 batters in the process.
The Pioneers tied the game in the seventh with Iacono again serving as the catalyst as he lined a one out single up the middle. Senior Kevin Chenicek (Levittown, N.Y.) followed with a single of his own, and a walk by Brunetti loaded the bases. After a popup, freshman John Bellock (Glen Cove, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, plating Iacono, and freshman David Grovenveld (Centereach, N.Y.) singled to center field to push across Chenicek to tie the game.
In the ninth, it was Iacono yet again as he worked a leadoff walk. Chenicek sacrificed him over to second base, and following an intentional walk to Brunetti, Maccarone rolled a grounder to shortstop, who flipped to second to get Brunetti on the play, but the AIC first baseman couldn't handle the throw on the double play attempt and Iacono scampered home for the victory.
Numbers on the day included a 3-for-4 game with four runs scored for Iacono, and a 2-for-2 effort with two RBI by Brunetti. Senior Keith Herring (New York, N.Y.) also added two hits.
Dave Clark had two hits for AIC, and Jeff Kraucunas was saddled with the loss, throwing 1.2 innings in relief and giving up one run on two hits.
The Pioneers return home from Florida this evening and are scheduled to play next Friday, March 22, opening East Coast Conference play at home against Queens College at 3 p.m.