By: Michael L. Damon
Box Score Box Score
Hoboken, N.J.— Playing in their 2009 season opener on Sunday, the John Jay baseball team fell on the road as the Bloodhounds were defeated by Stevens Institute of Technology, 12-7, at Dobbelaar Field.
John Jay, now 0-1 on the season, were led by
Jason Witten (Staten Island, NY, New Dorp) and
John Massoni (Staten Island, NY, St. Peter's Boys) who both had a multiple hit game. Massoni was 3-for-5 and scored twice, while Witten was 2-for-4 and had three RBIs.
The host Ducks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning off of John Jay starting pitcher, ace
Michael Colletta (Staten Island, NY, New Dorp) who went five innings and allowed four runs on four hits, while fanning three batters.
The Bloodhounds got their first run of the game and season in the top of the third off the bat of junior infielder
Xavier Perez (Bronx, NY, Manhattan Center) on a groundout to second that scored freshman outfielder
James Podlucky (Staten Island, NY, IMG Academy), who led off the inning with a single up the middle for the first hit of his college career.
John Jay narrowed the gap further with two more runs in the top of the sixth. Witten ripped a two out two run single to centerfield that scored Perez and Massoni who both singled earlier in the inning to get on base.
But the host Ducks took a five run lead with four runs in the bottom half of the frame off of Massoni who came in relief.
For the game Massoni went 3.0 innings and allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and struck out four.
Stevens Institute of Technology tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 9-3 lead after seven innings.
John Jay put up a four spot in the eighth inning to pull to within two.
Johan Abad, Witten,
Benjamin Beiro (Bronx, NY, Wesley Chapel) and
Edwin Hernandez (Brooklyn, NY, Murry Bergtraum) each registered one RBI each in the frame.
But Stevens added three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-7 lead and win.
John Jay committed six errors in the contest. Colletta picked up the loss for John Jay and falls to 0-1 on the season. Meanwhile Stevens' Joe Finora picked up the win for the Ducks after going 6.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with eight strikeouts.
Ken Meerendonk was 5-for-5 on the afternoon for Stevens with five singles, while leadoff hitter
Mark Rasulo was 3-for-4 with two runs, five RBI with a walk and a homerun.
John Jay returns to action on Sat. Mar. 1 for the first of a series of games in Port Charlotte, Fla. this next week. The Bloodhounds play Heidelberg College at 10 a.m.
