The baseball team opened up the 2016 season against New York University (NYU) and fell 6-4 and 5-3 at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY. The Violets picked up their first two wins of the season and improve to 2-3.
In game one, sophomore
Zach Hyde and senior
Noel Sanchez led off with back-to-back hit-by-pitches. In his first at-bat as a Bloodhound, junior
Charlee Rodriguez sliced a ball down the left field line for a two-run double. Junior
Brian Cabral walked and junior
R.J. Davila delivered an RBI single through the hole to give John Jay a 3-0 lead. With one out and runners at second and third, senior
Joe Jacobsen recorded an RBI groundout to give the Bloodhounds a four run inning.
Christian Rodriguez got the nod and did not allow a run through his first three innings. The sophomore was helped by stellar defense that included diving plays by Sanchez and junior
Jason Gonzalez. In the bottom of the fourth, the Violets scored two runs to chip away at the lead. In their next frame, the hosts tied the game at four apiece.
In the bottom of the sixth, NYU plated two runs and would go on to win game one by a final score of 6-4.
Just like in game one, John Jay jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Hyde led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a single by Sanchez.
Charlee Rodriguez came through with an RBI single to right field. With two outs and a runner at third, Davila delivered an RBI single up the middle.
NYU scored one in the bottom half of the frame. In the top of the third, Gonzalez smacked a double with two outs. Junior
Dylan Laudano came through with an RBI single to left center to give John Jay a 3-1 lead. The Violets tied it at 3-3 after three full innings.
Senior
Matthew Oppedisano got the start and pitched 4.1 innings. NYU took its first lead in the bottom of the fourth and tacked on another run in the fifth to lead 5-3. John Jay had a chance in the sixth but the Violets ended the inning on a "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play.
Sanchez and Gonzalez registered two hits in the contest. Junior
Matthew Quirindongo pitched the final 1.2 innings.
The Bloodhounds travel to Mrytle Beach, South Carolina on Wednesday for the Ripken Experience. John Jay will play six games from Thursday to Sunday.
