Patten Dazzles as Pirates Win Fifth Straight

Wednesday, March 27

Teaneck, N.J. / Naimoli Family Baseball Complex

3:30 PM

Seton Hall University

8-12

Fairleigh Dickinson

3-17-1

Seton Hall

Fairleigh Dickinson

3/27/2019 7:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

TEANECK, N.J. – Freshman Cole Patten (Manasquan, N.J.) allowed only two hits over six scoreless innings as the Seton Hall baseball team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 8-1, on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory.

Patten was brilliant, pitching a career-high six innings, walking only two, and striking out a career-best eight batters to earn the first victory of his collegiate career.

Offensively, the Pirates got production across the lineup. Freshman Steve Grober (Hillsborough, N.J.) led The Hall with three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Junior Christian Del Castillo (Miami, Fla.) continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Matt Toke (Three Bridges, N.J.) also had a pair of hits with a double and an RBI.

Senior Sebastiano Santorelli (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) had a two-run triple, and sophomore Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.Y.) had a two-run home run.

What Happened:
Seton Hall got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning, thanks in large part to some poor FDU defense. Senior Chris Villa (Staten Island, N.Y.) grounded to third base, but the Knight's third baseman threw wide of first base, which allowed Villa to reach second. Then, FDU's catcher threw wide of second base, which allowed Villa to get to third. On the game's next pitch, Grober blooped a single into center field to drive in the first run of the game.

In the top of the fifth inning, the bottom portion of the Pirate's lineup again combined for a run. Villa singled to lead off and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Grober followed with an RBI single to extend The Hall's lead to 2-0. An opposite field RBI single by Toke in the top of the sixth put the Pirates up, 3-0.

The Pirates put the game away in the top of the seventh inning, sending nine men to the plate and scoring five runs on five hits. Dana had a two-run home run, and Santorelli had a two-run triple in the outburst.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall out-hit FDU, 11-to-3. Seton Hall committed one error, while the Knights committed two.
Patten pitched a career-high six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with only two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts.
Grober went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Del Castillo reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Toke went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Dana had a two-run home run and scored twice.
Santorelli had a two-run triple, walked and scored a run.
Sophomore Tyler Burnham (East Brunswick, N.J.) pitched a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout.
Junior Blake Espinal (Bronx, N.Y.) tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Seton Hall left five men on base, while Fairleigh Dickinson left two.
FDU's Dom Spinoso took the loss. He allowed one run in one inning of work.

News & Notes:

The Pirates improve to 8-12 on the season, while Fairleigh Dickinson falls to 3-17-1. The Hall's current five-game win streak is its longest of the season so far.
Seton Hall improves to 50-11 all-time against the Knights and it evens up the season series, 1-1. The Pirates lost at FDU, 6-5, in 10 innings on Feb. 22.
Sophomore Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.J.) has reached base in 13 consecutive games, a season-high for any Pirate.
Today was the eighth time this season that the Pirates have recorded at least 10 hits.
Seton Hall out-hit its opponent for the 13^th time in 20 games this season.
Freshman Bobby Sheppard (Basking Ridge, N.J.) had his first career plate appearance and walked.
With Dana's home run today, the Pirates have now homered in four straight games. They've hit a total of six in that span.
Both Del Castillo and Grober have hit safely in five straight games to lead the team.

Next Up:
Seton Hall will return to action on Friday when it opens a three-game series in New Rochelle, N.Y. against local rival Iona. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.