Baseball Finishes Trip w/Pepperdine
3/7/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8 - 10, 2013
SETON HALL (0-9) at
PEPPERDINE (7-5)
Eddy D. Field Stadium
Malibu, Calif.
Game 10: Fri., March 8 - 5:00 p.m. ET - Eddy D. Field Stadium
Jon Prosinski - R (SHU) vs. Scott Frazier - R (PEP)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Video Stream: CLICK HERE
Game 11: Sat., March 9 - 4:00 p.m. ET - Eddy D. Field Stadium
TBD vs. Corey Miller - R (PEP)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Video Stream: CLICK HERE
Game 12: Sun., March 10 - 4:00 p.m. ET - Eddy D. Field Stadium
TBD vs. Jackson McClelland - R (PEP)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Video Stream: CLICK HERE
SETON HALL STATUS
Last weekend, Seton Hall embarked on a seven-game, spring break road trip to California. Most of the games were close, but the Pirates couldn't break into the win column. The trip started with three games against Tony Gwynn's San Diego State Aztecs. In game one, Seton Hall fell, 4-3, in a ninth inning walk-off. Jon Prosinski pitched well, giving up two earned runs over five innings and striking out nine. Game two was the only lop-sided loss of the week for SHU. The Pirates fell, 10-4, and trailed 10-1, before breaking through with three runs in the ninth inning. In the series finale, the Aztecs led 4-0 before eventually winning, 6-2. Zack Granite, Mike Genovese and Chris Selden all recorded a pair of hits for the Pirates. On Wednesday, Seton Hall dropped a 2-1 decision to the University of San Diego in their first mid-week game of the season. Freshman Sam Burum pitched masterfully in his first career start, pitching five scoreless innings, while scattering just two hits. Sophomore Kyle Grimm went 4-for-4, as the Pirates banged out 10 hits as a team.
FRESHMAN SOARS
Freshman Sam Burum has emerged as a reliable arm for the Pirates. The right-hander made his collegiate debut with two innings of scoreless baseball in SHU's loss at San Diego State on Saturday. On Tuesday, Burum made his first start and dazzled with five scoreless innings, while scattering just two hits.
GRIMM OUTLOOK
Sophomore Kyle Grimm had a big night at the plate for Seton Hall vs. San Diego. The third baseman went 4-for-4, which is the most hits in a single-game for any Pirate so far this season.
GENOVESE EMERGING
After starting the season hitless in his first 11 at bats, senior Mike Genovese has caught fire over the last six games, batting .429 during the stretch, and elevating his season average to .281. He's also driven in a team-best five RBIs over the last six games.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Senior Scott Kalamar has been the offensive star for the Pirates through their first five games this season. He's hit safely in all five contests and boasts a team-leading .333 batting average with one home run.
UP TO THEIR OLD TRICKS
True to their "small ball" style, Seton Hall has recorded 11 sacrifice bunts to start the season, which again leads the BIG EAST Conference. Last season, the Pirates led the conference, and Mike Genovese led the BIG EAST among individuals.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ANTHONY
Sophomore Anthony Elia took the ball as Seton Hall's Saturday starter vs. East Tennessee State last weekend. It was the first collegiate starting opportunity for the lefty. Elia looked good, throwing three innings and giving up two earned runs. He kept ETSU off the scoreboard for the first three innings before running into trouble to begin the fourth.
HEAVY D
Seton Hall has been one of the best defensive teams thus far this season. The Pirates are third in the BIG EAST in fewest errors (13) and are fifth in the conference in fielding percentage (.961).
POWER SURGE
Through five games this season, Seton Hall has recorded three home runs. It took 31 games in 2012 before the Pirates recorded their third home run. Those who've gone deep in 2013 include Sal Annunziata, Scott Kalamar and Ryan Sullivan.
PROSINSKI'S HONOR ROLL
Senior Jon Prosinski was named to the BIG EAST's first Honor Roll following his masterful performance vs. #1 North Carolina on Feb. 15. The right-hander threw seven innings and gave up just one run, while scattering three hits.
TANGLING WITH TAR HEELS
The Pirates opened the 2013 season with a weather-abbreviated series at #1 North Carolina. Seton Hall lost a pitchers' duel on Friday, Feb. 15, losing 1-0, after Pirates' pitchers scattered just four hits. Seton Hall had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth inning, but couldn't push the runs across. UNC starter Kent Emanuel pitched a complete-game shutout. Saturday's game was rained out. Seton Hall lost Sunday's game, 17-2.
KALAMAR CRUSHES
Senior Scott Kalamar was the offensive star for the Pirates in their opening weekend vs. #1 North Carolina. The Bethlehem, Pa. native garnered one of the Pirates' four hits on Friday and reached base four times on Sunday. Kalamar also crushed his second career home run in the loss.
CUNDARI HONORED
Seton Hall baseball associate head coach Phil Cundari was celebrated by the New Jersey Sportswriters Association for his "Distinguished Service to College Baseball" and was honored at the organization's 77th Anniversary Banquet on January 20. Cundari has been instrumental in developing what is annually one of the strongest pitching staffs in the BIG EAST Conference.
PROSINSKI NETS PRESEASON HONOR
Senior Jon Prosinski was named Preseason BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year. A First Team All-BIG EAST selection last season, Prosinski went 9-3 with a 3.52 ERA and did not allow a home run in 94.2 innings of work. An All-NJCBA pick, he was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll four times and earned NJCBA Pitcher of the Week honors on April 16. The right-hander pitched back-to-back complete-game shutouts against Fordham and Rutgers respectively. Prosinski led the conference with a 1.91 ERA in 2011, while helping lead the Pirates to the BIG EAST Championship.
PIRATES PICKED SIXTH
The Seton Hall baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the 11-team BIG EAST Conference by the 2013 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Louisville is expected to win the conference this year and garnered eight first place votes. St. John's was second, and received three first place votes. Notre Dame, Connecticut and USF round out the teams above the Pirates in the standings.
PIRATES TEAM WITH ST. BALDRICKS
For the first time, Seton Hall Athletics partnered with the St. Baldrick's Foundation to encourage people to voluntarily have their head shaved to recognize children suffering from pediatric cancer. Each member of the baseball team had their heads shaved in an effort to raise money for research and childhood cancer awareness. St. Baldrick's "BaseBald" campaign encourages baseball teams specifically to have their heads shaved in solidarity with childhood cancer patients.
PIRATES WELCOME 10
The Pirates will welcome 10 new members to the team this season. Sam Burum, Luke Cahill, Chris Chiaradio, Brett Fontenelli, Derek Jenkins, Steven Lombardi, Adnan Pjetrovic, Blaise Scerbo, Nate Vahedi and Zack Weigel will all don Seton Hall uniforms for the first time this spring. All are true freshmen.
DUNCAN A PIRATE AGAIN
Eric Duncan, former minor leaguer and Seton Hall Prep standout, is the Pirates' new volunteer assistant coach for 2013. The talented Duncan recently wrapped up a 10-year professional baseball career, but it was his performance at nearby Seton Hall Prep that put him on the local scene. Duncan attended Seton Hall Prep from 2000-03 where he was a four-year letterman on the baseball team. He was a part of two state championship teams and county titles, in 2001 and 2003, as well as three conference championships (2000, 2001, 2003).
FOR A TEAMMATE
For the fourth straight season, the Pirates baseball team will honor David Bachner, a 2009 in-coming freshman who passed away on August 11, 2009, by hanging a t-shirt with his name and high school number in the dugout each game.
NEW SCOREBOARD COMING TO OWEN T.
A new, state-of-the-art scoreboard, equipped with cutting edge graphic and video capabilities, is currently being installed for Seton Hall baseball home games this spring. The scoreboard will improve the fans' viewing experience and will be wired to supplement the enhanced coverage offered on the Pirate Sports Network.
BASEBALL GOING RETRO
In the 1980's, the Seton Hall Pirates wore a light blue and black horizontal striped jersey. In 2011, the Pirates brought them back by wearing them throughout season, and it brought the team luck, as they went on to win their third BIG EAST Championship. 2013 will be the third year of the retro renaissance.
STRIKE OUT CANCER
March 15-17 will mark the fifth annual Strike Out Cancer Tournament hosted by Seton Hall. Each season, the Pirates have hosted the tournament to raise funds through donations and merchandise sales to support cancer awareness and research.
MIKE SHEPPARD FIELD DEDICATED
Last season, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored Seton Hall University Baseball Head Coach Emeritus Mike Sheppard by renaming the softball field at Ivy Hill Park, "Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field." The field, which has been the home to the Seton Hall softball team since it received a $1.1 million facelift in 2005, will honor one of Seton Hall and Essex's greatest coaches.
