Score Game 1: NJIT 3, UAlbany 2
Score Game 2: NJIT 4, UAlbany 1
Location: Kean University in Union, New Jersey
Records: UAlbany (3-15-1, 0-5 America East) | NJIT (7-16, 2-3 America East)
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team fell in both games of Friday's doubleheader to America East opponent NJIT. In game one, the Great Danes were led by starting pitcher
Cregg Scherrer, who only allowed two earned runs on three hits, but eventually fell via a walk-off double, 3-2.
Matthew Mariano pitched five strong innings in game two, allowing just one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts.
Head Coach Jon Mueller: "Couple tough ones today. The pitching took a positive step. Offensively, we were limited."
Key Stats Game 1:
- UAlbany Pitchers:
- Scherrer only allowed three hits, and two earned runs, pitching the entire game for the Great Danes.
- Chris Fisher led the team with two hits, collecting an RBI.
- Will Feil went 1-3 and also added an RBI.
- Will Binder and Jason Bottari each finished with a run scored. Binder went 1-3 at the plate, Bottari went 1-2 with a walk.
- Victor Mazzara and Carson Dunkel each collected a hit.
- UAlbany finished with seven hits, one walk, five strikeouts, and left seven men on base.
Key Stats Game 2:
- UAlbany Pitchers:
- Mariano tossed five strong innings, allowing just one earned run. He was backed by two hitless innings from Quinn to close out the game.
- Chris Fisher again led the team in hits, going 2-3 with a walk. Will Feil also finished with two hits, going 2-3.
- Will Binder collected the team's lone RBI, a sac fly in the third.
- Jason Bottari and Josh Salandy each added a hit.
- Victor Mazzara and Owen Silliman both reached base via walks.
- UAlbany finished with six hits, three walks, 13 strikeouts, and left eight runners on base.
How it Happened Game 1:
- Cregg Scherrer started on the mound for UAlbany, Ryan Fischer started for NJIT.
- UAlbany gained the lead in the second inning when Chris Fisher singled to left to bring home Jason Bottari, who reached on a leadoff walk.
- UAlbany made it 2-0 in the fourth on a Will Feil single to bring home Will Binder, who reached on a leadoff single.
- NJIT responded in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the lead in half after Ty Sallie scored from third on a wild pitch.
- The game became tied at 2-2 in the sixth on a sac fly from Austin Francis scored Ray Ortiz.
- NJIT walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. Cole Fleming reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Andrew Elcock came in to pinch run for speed on the basepaths and scored after Jared Donnelly hit a game-winning double to right center.
How it Happened Game 2:
- Cam Fuer started on the mound for UAlbany in game two, Aidan Kidd started for NJIT.
- NJIT jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Ray Ortiz (double), Kevin Putsky (single), and Cole Fleming (single) all tallied an RBI in the opening frame.
- Matthew Mariano replaced Fuer to start the second inning for UAlbany.
- The Great Danes chipped away at the lead and scored a run in the third inning thanks to a bases-loaded sac fly off the bat of Will Binder, bringing home Victor Mazzara.
- NJIT pushed the lead back to three runs in the bottom of the third, making it 4-1 on a double steal that saw Fleming take second and Austin Francis cross home plate.
- Grant Vurpillat replaced Kidd on the mound for NJIT to start the sixth.
- Thomas Quinn came in for UAlbany to pitch in the seventh.
Next: The final game of the weekend series will be played either tomorrow or Sunday due to weather in the New Jersey area, with a decision expected early Saturday morning. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on
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