Bears Baseball Drops Pitchers' Duel to Briarcliffe in Small College World Series Opener

BUTLER, PA – In their opening game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Small College World Series, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) Baseball team fell to the Briarcliffe College Bulldogs, 4-1, at historic Pullman Park.

The Bears (20-14) were only able to muster three hits against Briarcliffe (18-14), who improved to 5-0 all-time against St. Joseph's.

Freshman right-hander Rosario DiLorenzo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) went toe-to-toe with Bulldog starter Gavin Stewart, a USCAA First-Team All-American, in a pitchers' duel that saw the score tied at 1-1 through five until the Bulldogs broke through for three runs in the sixth.

DiLorenzo (5-2) went the distance and took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out three.  St. Joseph's lone run was driven in by sophomore Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep), named USCAA Second-Team All-American yesterday, finishing the afternoon 1-for-2 with an RBI, a triple and a walk.

In the top half of the first, the Bulldogs jumped out with back-to-back hits building a 1-0 advantage. The Bears countered with a run of their own on a single from McKenna which plated leadoff man Kevin Diaz (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) who reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a grounder.

DiLorenzo kept the Briarcliffe bats in check until the sixth inning when the Bulldogs belted back-to-back hits to open the frame and scoring the deciding runs on a John Tsiolis two-run double.

The Bears had their chances advancing runners to third in the second and third innings, but unable to take the lead. St. Joseph's brought the tying run to the plate in their final at bat, but stranded runners at second and third in defeat.

Vinny Rossi (Bayside, NY/Holy Cross) had the Bears only other extra-base hit for St. Joseph's, finishing the day 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Turning Points

In the top of the third, the Bulldogs had a man in scoring position with cleanup hitting Anthony Mele at the plate. Mele hit a long drive to deep center field but Bears centerfielder Kevin Diaz, in a full-sprint, made an outstanding catch  running it down for third out of the inning, preserving the tie game.

With the game still knotted at 1-1, the Briarcliffe bats came to life with three straight hits, capped by a two-run double that reached the right field fence, plating the eventual winning runs.

Inside the Box Score

• Diaz picked up his 17th stolen base of the season in the loss, giving him the lead.
• The Bears left runners stranded at third base in both the second and third innings and finished the afternoon 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
• Domenick Camerada threw out another base stealer, improving his career and season total to 23.

News and Notes

• McKenna extends his reached base safely streak to 26 games and is two games shy of the school record set by Cundari earlier this season.

Up Next for the Bears

The Bears will await the loser of the No. 4 Selma vs. No. 5 Penn State Greater Allegheny playing tonight at 6:30 p.m. meeting them in an elimination game tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.