Late Errors Cost Baseball At FIU, 4-3
3/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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MIAMI, FLA. - Trailing, 4-3, in the top of the ninth inning, the Seton Hall baseball team stranded runners on first and second with one out as it fell to Florida International Saturday evening at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami.
After a difficult bottom of the eighth where the eventual winning-run was scored on a balk, Mike Genovese (Livingston, N.J.) came to the plate with one out and reached first base on a bunt. Zach Granite (Staten Island, N.Y.) drew a walk, but Panthers closer Bryam Garcia settled down to induce A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.) to fly out to left field and strike out Frank Esposito (Staten Island, N.Y.) for his second save of the season.
With the game tied at three, Jabari Henry led off the home half of the eighth inning with a walk and later stole second base. After pinch-hitter David Vazquez was hit-by-a-pitch, Henry advanced to third base on a throwing error by Harvey. Pablo Bermudez was intentionally walked to load the bases, but before being able to record an out, Harvey was called for a balk scoring Henry and giving the Panthers a, 4-3, win.
The Panthers struck first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning when Rudy Flores led off with a home run and Bermudez ripped a one-out two-run single to center field, but the Pirates came right back.
Dale Anderson (Alberta, Canada) led off the top of the fourth inning with a walk and Sean Gusrang (Burlington, N.J.) singled. Connor Delepine (Middletown, N.J.) advanced each runner one base with a groundout to the right side of the infield, while Chris Selden (Allenhurst, N.J.) plated Anderson with another ground out to the right side of the infield. Mike Genovese (Livingston, N.J.), who earned his first collegiate start at second base, drilled an RBI single to right field scoring Gusrang.
Still trailing, 3-2, in the top of the sixth, the Pirates scored the tying run when Ryan Sullivan (Stony Point, N.Y.) moved to third base on a base hit to left field off the bat of Genovese, and came around to score when left fielder Henry misplayed the ball.
Genovese led the Pirates offensive finishing the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base, while Granite improved his hitting streak to five games with a single and drew two walks.
Despite the balk by Harvey, Rick Mangione (Orange, Conn.) suffered the loss as Henry's run was charged to him. D.J. Swatscheno (1-0) picked up the win. Pirates' starter Joe DiRocco (East Hanover, N.J.) received a no-decision after allowing only three runs on four hits while striking out five in six innings of work.
The Pirates and Panthers will complete the three game series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.
