Payero Flashes Brilliance as Hall 2-Hits Leopards

Wednesday, May 1

Forks Township, Pa. / Kamine Stadium

3:35 PM

Seton Hall University

Lafayette

5/1/2019 6:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

EASTON, PA. – Freshman Nick Payero (Monroe, N.J.) took a perfect game into the seventh inning, and both Tyler Shedler-McAvoy (Allendale, N.J.) and Steve Grober (Hillsborough, N.J.) drove in three runs apiece as the Seton Hall baseball team defeated Lafayette, 7-1, on Wednesday.

Payero was absolutely brilliant in the best start of his young career, retiring 18 straight batters to begin the game before a leadoff walk in the seventh ended the perfect game bid. The right-hander still didn't allow a hit, giving up just one unearned run over 6.2 innings with one walk and six strikeouts to earn the victory.

Reliever Tyler Burnham (East Brunswick, N.J.) allowed a leadoff single to start the eighth inning, but nothing more, shutting the Leopards down over 1.1 innings. Sophomore Hunter Waldis (Far Hills, N.J.) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to complete the two-hitter.

Shedler-McAvoy extended his team-best hit streak to 11 games with another strong performance. The center fielder reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and three RBIs. Grober also drove in three runs, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

What Happened:
Seton Hall broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. After Chris Villa (Staten Island, N.Y.) led off with a bunt single, sophomore Jerry Huntzinger (Staten Island, N.Y.) doubled to the right-center field gap. Shedler-McAvoy followed with a two-RBI single to put The Hall on top, 2-0.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Pirates doubled their lead on an RBI single by Grober and a bases loaded infield single by Shedler-McAvoy. The latter, which was a bang-bang play at first base, extended The Hall's lead to 4-0.

Grober struck again in the top of the fifth inning. His two-run single with one out scored Sebastiano Santorelli (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) and Connor Hood (Shrewsbury, Pa.) put gave The Hall a commanding six-run lead. The Pirates never looked back.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall out-hit Lafayette, 10-to-2. Both teams committed two errors.
Payero earned the victory allowing just one unearned run over 6.2 hitless innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
Shedler-McAvoy reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and three RBIs.
Grober went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs.
Hood went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Huntzinger reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, a stolen base and a run scored.
Santorelli walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored three times.
Seton Hall left eight men on base, while Lafayette left three.

News & Notes:

The Pirates improve to 20-22 overall, while Lafayette falls to 17-28.
Seton Hall improves to 25-2 all-time against the Leopards and has now won 14 straight in the series.
With a hit today, Shedler-McAvoy has now hit safely in 11 straight games, which is the longest streak of the season for any Pirate. During his streak, he is batting .452 (19-for-42) and has an on-base percentage of .549.
Shedler-McAvoy has now tied Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.Y.) for the team lead with 12 multi-hit games this season. His eight multi-RBI games already leads The Hall.
Seton Hall improves to 18-0 when leading after seven innings.
Today was the 18^th time this season that the Pirates have recorded at least 10 hits.
With the victory, Seton Hall improves to 9-3 in midweek games this season.

Next Up:
Seton Hall will return to action on Friday, May 3 when it travels to Cincinnati for a BIG EAST game at Xavier. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.