Baseball Unable to Avenge Loss to Baruch in 14-12 Seesaw Battle

BRONX, N.Y. – In a wild game that featured 28 runs, 29 hits, 12 errors and five lead changes, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) baseball team dropped a 14-12 decision to Baruch College on Thursday afternoon at Bronx Community College.

The Bears (13-3) failed to avenge one of their two losses this season, falling to the to the Bearcats (9-8) who swept the two-game season series.

The game would have a completely different tone than the earlier season meeting which ended 2-1, the Bearcats scoring two runs in the first off Bears miscues and holding the Bears off for the win.

Both teams traded jabs throughout the game, each team managing to score a run in all but four half innings. After St. Joseph's scored one run in the top of the eighth to push their advantage to two, 7-5, Baruch delivered a haymaker with eight runs in the home half of the frame to take a commanding 14-8 lead.

Stunned momentarily, the Bears still managed to assemble a rally in the ninth, drawing a leadoff walk and knocking four hits that scored four runs and brought the tying run to the plate with only one out. But the Bears couldn't find the deciding blow and suffered their third defeat of the season.

Freshman Rosario DiLorenzo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) tossed seven innings in a no-decision striking out seven and allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits.

Junior Mike Cundari (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) and sophomore Chris Cutrone (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) each knocked three hits with two RBI and a run scored.

Inside the Box Score

• Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep), Kevin Diaz (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) and Brian Luebcke (Astoria, NY/Monsignor McClancy) each had two hits and two runs scored. McKenna also driving in a pair of runs and McKenna and Diaz knocking doubles, two of three extra-base hits on the afternoon.
• Domenick Camerada (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) also contributed two hits with an RBI and run scored. 
• Eight different Bears and eight different Bearcats recorded a hit in the victory.
• Paul Piccirillo (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) took the loss on the mound (0.1 IP, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 H) and fell to 3-1.

News and Notes

• The loss is the Bears' first this season when scoring 10 or more runs.
• McKenna has extended his hit streak to a current team-leading eight games.
• Diaz has reached base successfully in 12 straight games.
• Piccirillo's loss was the first in 14 decisions dating back to 2011. 

Next Up for the Bears - Maritime

St. Joseph's returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 6 for a road doubleheader against Maritime College starting at 11 a.m. at Reinhardt Field. The Bears swept the Privateers 10-4 and 6-2 in their meeting earlier this season on March 10.