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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. Seton Hall baseball sophomore Sean Black (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) (3-2) tossed eight-plus innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three as the Pirates held on to defeat Cincinnati in game two of the doubleheader, 5-2. With the win, the Pirates are now two wins shy of clinching their first BIG EAST playoff berth since 2001.
Trailing, 5-1, in the top of the ninth, the Bearcats loaded the bases however only came away with a sacrifice-fly off the bat of junior Josh Harrison, however that was all junior Keith Cantwell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) would allow as he picked up his fourth save of the season.
The Pirates and Bearcats took a scoreless game into the bottom of the fourth inning when Pirates freshman Edward Brown (Edison, N.J.) ripped a lead-off home run over the left field wall. It was his first collegiate home run, giving the Hall a, 1-0, lead. However, Cincinnati senior Ryan Baker belted a one-out solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game.
Seton Hall took a, 2-1, lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Mark Pappas (Ocean Township, N.J.) hit a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring senior Dan Lopez (Weehawken, N.J.) from third base. Lopez doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning and reached third base when freshman A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.) grounded out to second base.
The Pirates added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning when sophomore Chris Fontenelli (Toms River, N.J.) drove home junior Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) on a sacrifice-fly to center field. Smedberg led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a fly ball to right field off the bat of junior Tim McCann (Manasquan, N.J.). Pappas and Smedberg added run-scoring singles in the bottom of the eighth inning for a, 5-1, lead.
For the Pirates, Pappas finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI, Smedberg went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Rusbarsky ended 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Lopez was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Sophomore Brian Garman (4-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits in six innings.
The Pirates and Bearcats will complete the three-game series on Sunday, May 11 with first pitch set for 11:00 a.m. Prior to the game, the Pirates will honor their six seniors with the ceremony beginning at 10:45 a.m.
