By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
Box Score
Abington, Pa.— The John Jay baseball team dug themselves a massive hole in the first inning and almost came all the way back, but just a tad short in the end as the Bloodhounds were defeated by Penn State Abington 13-12 on Friday afternoon.
The loss drops the Bloodhounds to 7-23 overall, while Penn State Abington improves to 17-4 this season.
After the Bloodhounds scored a run in the top of the first, the host Nittany Lions overwhelmed John Jay with 11 runs in the bottom of the first to go up 11-1 after one. John Jay starting pitcher
Mark Marte faced the first nine batters, and all nine got on base and eventually scored.
But the game was far from over. After going scoreless in the second, the Bloodhounds roared back at the Nittany Lions with seven runs in the top of the third, and suddenly, the Bloodhounds were back in it with six innings remaining. The big blow in the inning came on a bases clearing double by
Billy Moran who had four runs batted in in the contest. John Jay trailed only 11-8 after two and a half innings.
Then John Jay scored two more times in the top of the fourth to make the score 12-10. The red hot
Brian McKenna ripped a two run double to score
Owen Kimmel and Nester Amarante. But McKenna was tagged out on the base paths and the Bloodhounds left two runners on base before the inning ended.
Penn State Abington's only other run in the contest proved to be a run the Nittany Lions needed as they tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to make the score 13-10.
John Jay added two runs in the top of the eighth. First, McKenna ripped another double to score
Corry Harper. Then Moran lifted a sacrifice fly to score Amarante. But John Jay left the tying run on third base before the inning ended.
In the top of the ninth, Kimmel drew a one out walk to represent the tying run. But Penn State Abington closer, Robert Morak, got the final two outs to earn the save.
The Nittany Lions outhit the Bloodhounds 22-8. Penn State Abington's Matt Lawson had four hits in the contest, while Pat Moran, Mike Kerns, Bill Parave and A.J. Vagliani had three hits each.
