Baseball Continues Opening Week with Virginia Trip

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Hoping to bounce back from a double-digit defeat in their season opener, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) baseball team heads down the coast to Virginia to battle Mary Washington and Marymount (Va.) for six games in three days. The Bears take on Mary Washington in a doubleheader on Friday (Mar. 9), followed by a twin-bill at Marymount (Va.) on Saturday and then back to Mary Washington for two more contests on Sunday afternoon.

Friday, Mar. 9 at 1 & 3 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 11 at 1 & 3 p.m.
at Mary Washington

Opponent's Info: Schedule | Roster | Stats
Coverage: Live Stats: Fri. - Game 1/Game 2, Sun. - Game 1/Game 2

Previously

• SJC kicked off the Blumenauer era on Tuesday (Mar. 6) in their annual game at MCU Park versus NYU. The Violets proved too much for the youthful visitors and steamrolled to a 17-2 victory preserving their perfect record and improving to 5-0 on the season. There were some bright spots in defeat, as four players picked up their first hits as Bears while freshman Justus Acosta (Little Neck, N.Y./Holy Cross) and junior Kevin Reyes (Bronx, N.Y./ACEI) tallied their first RBIs in the blue and gray.
• The Eagles are already well into the 2018 season currently sitting at 5-5 overall and 4-2 in their last six contests. Last time out they fell to Averett 8-7 (Mar. 7) despite a 2-for-5 day at the plate from right fielder David Slupek (2 RBI, 1 R). Two games ago MWU downed Johnson and Wales (RI) 10-6 behind perfect hitting from Slupek (4-for-4) along with three runs and a RBI. Before hosting SJC, Mary Washington battles Averett again on Thursday (Mar. 8).

Keys to the Contest

• Against NYU the pitching platoon of Daniel Egan (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream Central), Andrew Watters (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian), Peter Terranova (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian), and J.J. McLaughlin (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka) combined for eight innings pitched, 16 hits, 17 runs (11 ER), and 10 walks. Although they didn't get much offensive support, the pitching staff and defense (four errors vs. NYU) must shore themselves up in order to turn things around in the Old Dominion.
• In each of their last three games Mary Washington has given up at least six runs, so the Bears should look to continue the trend and pounce on an Eagles' pitching staff that currently boasts a 4.76 ERA. At the plate, it's a whole different story as MWU's lineup includes eight .300+ hitters highlighted by Slupek (.348, three doubles), catcher Kevin France (.368, four doubles, five RBI), and junior Ramsis Ruiz (.357, five XBH, seven RBI).

History

• Friday is the Bears' first-ever meeting with Mary Washington.

Saturday, Mar. 10 at 12 p.m. & 3 p.m.
at Marymount (Va.)

Opponent's Info: Schedule | Roster | Stats

Previously

• The Saints are another team that has already played a handful of games as they enter the weekend at 4-5 overall and winners of two-straight outings. Most recently, they overcame Virginia Wesleyan on the road by a final score of 8-2 (Mar. 7). In that game senior right-hander Collin Bazemore shined on the hill going seven strong innings for the win allowing just four hits and one run while striking out six. Before that Marymount upended Western Connecticut State 11-1 in the second half of a doubleheader as three different players drove in two runs.

Keys to the Contest

• Bazemore is 1-1 on the year in three starts, but the offense has been Marymount's strong suit as the team is hitting .306 compared to an opposing batting average of .247. Senior outfielder Javier Herrera has been on fire leading the squad with a .471 average as well as six RBI and two doubles. Kevin Darrow and Michael Wade are each hitting .379 thus far with 11 RBI between the pair, and the lineup includes four other players with averages of at least .285.

History

• This doubleheader is the inaugural showdown between the two programs.