No Headline
4/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | General
April 12, 1998 Sports Information, 973-761-9493 BASEBALL (13-11-1; 5-5)
The baseball team posted a record of 2-2 last week. The Pirates lost to BIG EAST and intra-state rival, Rutgers, 9-7; defeated Monmouth, 4-3; and split a doubleheader at Villanova with a 3-2 loss and a 14-4 victory. A third game against Villanova was postponed due to rain. The Pirates finished the week with an overall record of 13-11-1 and 5-5 in the BIG EAST.
On Wednesday (April 7), the Pirates battled back after spotting Rutgers a 9-1 advantage going into the seventh inning, in Piscataway, NJ. Seton Hall scored three runs in the seventh and three in the eighth but fell short of its comeback bid. Junior Alfie Critelli (Summit, NJ) led the Pirates going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Classmate Ray Navarrete (Morgan Hill, CA) went 1-for-4 also driving in two runs. Starter Derek Hurley (Staten Island, NY) suffered the loss for the Pirates, pitching 4.1 innings, surrendering six runs, five of them earned, on eight hits.
On Thursday (April 7) the Pirates traveled to Monmouth and posted a 4-3 victory in 10 innings. Monmouth scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the score, 3-3, and force the extra stanza. Brian Leighton's (Brewster, NY) RBI single down the right field line in the top of the tenth proved to be the winning run. The sophomore was 2-for-5 with a double. Freshman Jeff Miller (West Orange, NJ) was 2-for-4 with a home run and a run batted in. Sophomore Joe Cuervo (Warren, NJ) (2-for-4), also homered for the Pirates. Junior Damon Ponce de Leon (Demarest, NJ) was the winning pitcher, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings to improve his record to 2-0.
On Saturday (April 10), the Pirates split a doubleheader at Villanova. The Pirates dropped the opener, 3-2 in 12 innings, but came back in the nightcap with a 14-4 win. Game one, a scheduled seven-inning affair, was tied at 1-1 after seven. Seton Hall took a 2-1 lead in the top of the tenth, but Villanova scored in the bottom of the inning and then again in the bottom of the twelfth on an RBI double by Nick Piantek with no outs off of Hurley, who fell to 0-4 with the loss. Senior lefty John Probst (Parsippany, NJ) was masterful in eight innings of work in game one, allowing only one run and striking out four in his first start of the year. In game two, Seton Hall's bats came alive, scoring two in the second inning and plating 10 runs in the third on seven hits to jump ahead of the Wildcats, 12-0. Junior righthander Cameron Esslinger (South Orange, NJ) took over from there, fanning 12 Wildcats to improve to 2-2 on the season. Esslinger pitched eight innings, giving up only three hits and allowing four runs. The Pirates were led offensively by Brian Leighton and Critelli. Leighton was 4-for-6 in the two games with a triple and six walks. Critelli finished the twinbill 5-for-10 with three runs batted in. Navarrete homered in the second game and finished 2-for-5 in the game.
NEXT FOR THE PIRATES: Seton Hall faces Villanova on Monday (April 12) at 3 p.m. in a make-up match. The Pirates return home to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday (April 13) at 3:30 p.m. Seton Hall hosts Rutgers on Wednesday (April 14) at 3 p.m. The Pirates travel to Teaneck on Thursday (April 15) for a rematch with FDU at 3:30 p.m. Seton Hall wraps up the week hosting Providence this weekend with a noon doubleheader on Saturday (April 17) and a single noon game on Sunday (April 18).
SOFTBALL (20-4; 4-2)
The Seton Hall softball team posted a 3-2 record last week. The
Pirates began the week with a win over Fordham, 5-3. The scheduled
second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain. Seton
Hall split a pair of twinbills with Connecticut (6-2 win, 3-2 loss) and
Boston College (6-0 loss, 4-3 win). The softball team concludes the
week with an overall record of 20-4, 4-2 in the BIG EAST.
On Saturday (April 10), sophomore pitcher Jenn Berghoff (Milford, NJ)
hurled a complete-game victory over Connecticut in the first game of the
afternoon. Berghoff tossed seven innings allowing only one earned
run on seven hits to improve her record to 10-1 this season. The Pirates
scored three runs in the second inning, keyed by an RBI double by freshman
Kim Jackson (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) and a two-run error by Connecticut
catcher Jamine Blesoff. Jackson doubled twice and finished 3-for-3
with an RBI and two runs scored. The nightcap was close throughout, with
the Pirates holding a 1-0 lead through four and a half innings before the
Huskies scored one run in the fourth and two in the fifth. Senior Shye
Nakabayashi (Irvine, CA/Irvine) drove in Jackson with an RBI triple, but
was stranded at third base to end the last threat for the Pirates.
Sophomore pitcher Misty Beaver (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) was solid for
the Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits in six innings, but fell
to 9-2 with the loss. The game two defeat snapped a 12-game winning
streak for the Pirates, who received votes in the latest USA Today national
softball poll.
In game one of the Boston College doubleheader on Sunday (April
11), Boston College's Mary Dietz three a one-hitter, shutting out the Pirates,
6-0, for the first time this season. Senior Jen Rosant (Cliffwood
Beach, NJ) broke up the no-hit bid with a single in the fourth inning.
Starting pitcher Berghoff (10-2) suffered the loss for the Pirates, only
her second loss of the season. The Pirates rebounded in game two
to grab a 4-3 victory over the Eagles. Seton Hall scored three runs
in the first inning as Jackson hit an RBI double and Kristina Self (Rockaway,
NJ) had a two-run single. The Pirates added another run in the second
when Ryan Barry (Rochester, NY) doubled and scored on a single by Kerry
Kirk (Ramsey, NJ). Pitcher Beaver improved her record to 10-2, striking
out 10 Eagles and surrendering just four hits and one earned run.
Earlier in the week, the Pirates posted a 5-3 victory at Fordham
on Wednesday (April 7). Berghoff picked up the win for the Pirates.
NEXT FOR THE PIRATES: Seton Hall travels to Long Island University
on Tuesday (April 13) for a 6:00 p.m. doubleheader. The Pirates then
host Bucknell on Thursday (April 15) for a 3 p.m. twinbill. St. Joseph's
comes into South Orange on Saturday (April 17) for two games beginning
noon. Then the Pirates will host Providence on Sunday (April 18)
for a noon doubleheader.
MEN'S & WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK
The men's and women's track teams competed at the Sea Ray Relays
on Saturday (April 10). There was no team scoring in the meet.
The men's 4x800 relay team captured a first place finish.
The team of junior James Karanja (Thika, Kenya), freshman Sheldon Melbourne
(Kingston, Jamaica), junior Marcel Burke (Albany, NY) and senior Ned Brooks
(North Babylon, NY) posted a time of 7:24.48 for the victory. Brooks
also captured a fourth place finish in the 800-meter with a time of 1:49.67.
Senior Derwin Jones (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad) garnered a fourth place finish
in the 400-meter hurdles in 52.00
On the women's side, the sprint medley relay team of sophomore
Erica Broomfield (Markham, Ontario), junior Shontee Bryant (Silver Springs,
MD), sophomore Teneka Horton (Chicago, IL) and senior Marissa Defreese
(Rahway, NJ) finished second with a time of 3:48.50. Defreese also
captured a third place finish in the 800 meter run in 2:06.38. Broomfield
finished fifth in the 200-meter run in 23.32.
NEXT FOR SETON HALL: The track team will compete at the Arkansas
Invitational on Saturday (April 17).
WOMEN'S TENNIS (6-13; 2-2: includes Fall record)
The women's tennis team defeated Pittsburgh, 8-1, on Saturday
(April 10) to improve its record to 6-13 overall, 2-2 in the BIG EAST.
The Pirates swept all singles matches highlighted by junior Laura McCracken
(Greystones, Ireland) who defeated Sarah Austin, 7-6 (6), 6-2 at first
singles. After the singles wins, the Pirates took two of three doubles
matches. The wins came from the duo of Kyli Lasalle (New Iberia,
LA) and McCracken over Erin Sharbrack and Lindsay Carlson, 8-1, at first
doubles. Beth Dugan (Somerset, NJ) and Evelyn Macko (Longeuil, Canada)
defeated Austin and Ali Bucher, 8-2, at second doubles.
NEXT FOR SETON HALL: The Pirates host Villanova on Friday (April
16) at 1 p.m. for their final home match of the season. The Pirates
then travel to Providence on Saturday (April 17) for a noon match and then
will face Massachusetts on Sunday (April 18) for an 11 a.m. match.
MEN'S TENNIS (6-11; 0-4: includes Fall record)
The men's tennis team posted a 1-1 record last week. The
Pirates defeated Lafayette, 5-2, but dropped a 5-2 decision to Providence.
Seton Hall finished the week with a record of 6-11 overall, 0-4 in the
BIG EAST.
On Wednesday (April 7), the Pirates defeated Lafayette, 5-2 at
the Ivy Hill Tennis Complex. The top four singles players led the
Pirates to victory, highlighted by Alex Militec's (Belgrade, Yugoslavia)
win over Ross Mondshine, 6-0, 6-0 at first singles. The Pirates captures
two of the three double matches as Militec and Lou Castelli (Maplewood,
NJ) defeated Mondshine and Aruto Pereira, 8-2, at first doubles.
The team of Mark Vanderelst (Hamilton, Ontario) and Jan Rickel (Bingen,
Germany) defeated Andrein Smith-Mansky and Vadi Mani, 8-1, at second doubles.
On Sunday (April 11), the Pirates dropped a 5-2 decision to Providence.
Militec and Vanderelst picked up the Pirates' only points with wins at
first and third singles, respectively. Militec defeated Chris Walker,
6-3, 6-2 improving his record to 22-6. Vanderelst downed Keith Dressler,
6-4, 6-1, to improve his record to 16-10.
NEXT FOR THE PIRATES: The tennis team hosts Fairleigh Dickinson
on Monday (April 12) at 3 p.m. at the Ivy Hill Tennis Courts. The
Pirates will travel to Massachusetts on Saturday (April 17) for a 1 p.m.
match. Sunday (April 18) the Pirates will face Connecticut .
GOLF
The Seton Hall golf team, ranked first in District 2, solidified
its top ranking by winning the Navy Spring Invitational held at the U.S.
Naval Academy Golf Club this past weekend.
The Pirates combined for a total of 583, which established a new tournament
record. It also marked only the third time in the 20-year tournament history
that a squad has broken 600. Seton Hall finished 17 strokes ahead
of second-place James Madison, which shot a 600. Sophomore Eugene
Smith (Glen Ridge, NJ) also set a new record en route to winning the individual
title. Smith was one under par with a two-day total of 141 (70-71) to earn
the crown. Teammate Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) placed third with a 146
(75-71), while senior Mike Costigan (London, Ontario) was tied for ninth
with a 150 (71-79). The Pirates shot a 291 on Sunday, battling the elements,
playing in near 40 degree temperatures with strong winds and several heavy
downpours. The victory sets the stage for Seton Hall to earn its second
consecutive bid to the NCAA Championship.
NEXT FOR THE PIRATES: The golf team will compete in the Temple
Owl Classic on Friday and Saturday (April 16 and 17).
