Seton Hall University
San Diego State
Baseball Falls in Ninth to SDSU
3/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - San Diego State scored the winning run on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning and sent the Seton Hall baseball team to a 4-3 defeat on Friday.
Seton Hall pitcher Brian Gilbert (Toms River, N.J.) pitched very well in relief before running into trouble in the ninth inning. The junior pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, but failed to record an out in the ninth, and took the loss.
It looked as though Seton Hall was going to break through early, but it left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning. San Diego State however, took the early lead with a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the first. The Aztecs then extended their lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning.
Seton Hall starter Jon Prosinski (Skillman, N.J.) settled in after the third and kept the Aztecs off the scoreboard for two more innings. Prosinski finished with a no decision, going five innings with two earned runs, nine strikeouts and two walks.
The Pirates got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Ryan Sullivan (Stony Point, N.Y.) reached on a leadoff bunt single and was moved to second on a sacrifice by Zack Granite (Staten Island, N.Y.). With one out, senior Mike Genovese (Livingston, N.J.) doubled to right field, scoring Sullivan with the Pirates' first run.
After San Diego State (5-5) extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Seton Hall scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game at three. With one out, Sullivan doubled to left center and Granite followed with a walk. After Granite stole second base, Genovese walked to load the bases. Scott Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa.) struck out for the second out of the inning, but Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) followed with an infield RBI single, and Tyler Boyd (Succasunna, N.J.) walked to force in the tying run.
Seton Hall (0-6) had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning, but Kyle Grimm (Bergenfield, N.J.) was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a single by Dillon Hamlin (Colts Neck, N.J.). In the ninth inning, the Pirates stranded runners on second and third.
The Pirates recorded season-highs with 11 men stranded on base and an uncharacteristic four errors.
Annunziata, Papaccio and Sullivan each recorded a pair of hits in the loss. Papaccio and Genovese both reached base a team-high three times.
Seton Hall will return to action tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on San Diego State in the second game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
