Bears Swept in Long Island, Losing Two to Old Westbury

OLD WESTBURY, NY - Playing their second doubleheader in as many days, St. Joseph's couldn't repeat their sweep from Saturday and dropped both games to Old Westbury, 8-5 and 14-2, Sunday afternoon. The Panthers had 14 hits in each game and outhit the Bears 28-7 for the doubleheader. Old Westbury also took advantage of some Bears miscues, scoring a total of 11 unearned runs.

Junior Joseph Boccia (Westwood, NJ/Westwood) and freshman Joseph Mendez (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) were the only Bears with multiple hits. Boccia finished game one 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while Mendez had a hit in each game and collected his team-leading 13th RBI.

Game One – St. Joseph's 5, Old Westbury 8 – Box Score

St. Joseph's started off hot, scoring in the top half of the first. With one out, Thomas Karasinski (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) singled, Kevin Diaz (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) walked and Mendez singled in Karasinski. The Bears threatened to add to their total with runners on second and third and one out, but Old Westbury got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Panthers came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the first, getting three hits off St. Joseph's starter Kevin Hernandez (Corona, NY/Newtown).

St. Joseph's once again went ahead in their half of the 3rd as Boccia crossed the plate after an error by leftfielder Chris DeGennaro. Just like the first inning, the Bears couldn't add more and left a man in scoring position. Old Westbury made them pay by tallying two runs and four hits in the bottom half of the 3rd to take a 3-2 lead.

The score remained that way as Panthers starter Joshua Burgos settled in. He went 5.1 innings allowing just the two runs (one earned). Old Westbury broke the game open in the 5th, scoring four runs to jump ahead 7-2. The inning started innocently for the Bears. Hernandez got the first two batters on a ground out and strikeout, but a fielding miscue kept the inning alive and cost the Bears four runs. The Panthers strung together three hits and walk following the error, distancing themselves from the Bears. They would add another run in the 6th, also with two outs, and headed into the last frame up 8-2.

The Bears added three runs in the 7th, but the six run deficit proved to be too much. Diaz picked up an RBI reaching on an error and Mike Cundari (Staten Island, NY/St. Peters) singled to drive in the final two runs.

Hernandez went the distance for the Bears. He pitched six innings, allowing all eight runs (three earned) and striking out two.

Game Two – St. Joseph's 2, Old Westbury 14 – Box Score

Old Westbury had an easy time in this one, scoring at least one run in the first five innings. Panthers starter Jose Pena also kept the Bears bats at bay as he and relievers Alex Rutman and Kevin Briffa combined on a one-hitter.

Already up 3-0 after two innings, the Panthers put up a four spot in the bottom of the third off Bears starter Danny Contant (Staten Island, NY/Xaverian). Shortstop Benjamin Farias drove a 2-2 pitch down the left field line for a double that plated two. Farias later came around to score on a single and the rout was on.

St. Joseph's scored both their runs in the 4th on a sacrifice fly by Joe Mendez and Cundari scored on a balk.

Old Westbury tacked on three runs in the 4th and four more in the 5th off the St. Joseph's bullpen and the Bears went down quietly against the Panthers staff.

St. Joseph's (3-11) returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 30th as they travel to Randall's Island to take on City College of New York. The doubleheader is set to kick off at 3:30 pm.