Five Run Seventh Sinks Baseball Against USF, 6-4

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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Baseball team took a, 3-1, lead into the seventh inning, but surrendered five runs creating a deficit the offense was unable to come back from as they lost to USF, 6-4, Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field.

Pirates' starter Joe DiRocco (East Hanover, N.J.) worked into the seventh inning having allowed only one run - a bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth - but walked Andrew Longley and allowed a double off the bat of Chad Taylor before being taken out the game for Frank Morris (Levittown, Pa.).  Luis Llerena drew another walk, and Jonathan Koscso hit an RBI single to cut the Pirates lead to, 3-2.

Junior Carlin brought in the tying run with a groundout to the right side of the infield and Llerena scored on a balk call against Ryan Harvey (Manalapan, N.J.) for the team's fourth run.  With the rain beginning to fall during the inning, Harvey slipped as he planted his foot in the dirt to throw stopping his motion and allowing Llerena to score from third.  Sam Mende then ripped an RBI triple and Alex Mendez drove in the Bulls' sixth run with a single.

The Pirates, however, looked to threatened by bringing the tying run to the plate in each half inning.

With two outs in the bottom half of the seventh, Giuseppe Papaccio (Nutley, N.J.) was hit-by-a-pitch and Mike Genovese (Livingston, N.J.) drew a walk, but Ryan Sullivan (Stony Point, N.Y.) grounded out to the right side ending the inning.

Again, in the bottom of the eighth, Dillon Hamlin (Colts Neck, N.J.), Ryan Parker (Glen Allen, Va.) - brought into the game to play second base when Genovese was summoned to the mound to pitch the remainder of the seventh inning - and Zack Granite (Staten Island, N.Y.) drew walks to load the bases with no outs, but the Bulls bullpen and defense came through to preserve the lead.

Kevin Quackenbush was brought in from the bullpen to face A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.).  The senior hit a pitch up the middle, but USF shortstop Sam Mende ranged and dove to his left, glove-flipped the ball to second baseman Luis Llerena who turned to throw Rusbarsky out at first for a double play.  Hamlin scored on the play to cut the deficit to, 6-4, but with Parker on third base, Dale Anderson (Alberta, Canada) struck out swinging to end the inning.

Similarly, the Hall had their last chance in the ninth inning with Genovese on second base following a USF throwing error and two outs, but Quackenbush struck out Sullivan to end the game for his eighth save of the season.

Before Jimmy Falla drew an RBI walk in the sixth inning, the Pirates were clinging to a, 3-0, lead since the bottom of the second when Sullivan belted his team-leading third home run of the season over the right field fence.

Papaccio led off the frame by reaching second base on a fielding error by Bulls right fielder Alex Mendez.  Genovese then followed with a single moving the sophomore from Nutley to third base before Sullivan stepped to the plate to deliver a three-run home run.

That was all USF starter Kyle Eastham would allow as he lasted 5.2 innings receiving a no decision.

Despite a brilliant first five innings from DiRocco, which included three 1-2-3 innings, the senior right hander finished his outing allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six in six-plus innings of work.

Morris (0-2) suffered the loss, while Jimmy Moran (3-0) picked up the win.

The Pirates and Bulls will complete the three-game series tomorrow afternoon beginning at noon.