Santoriello Fans 10 in Baseball’s Split with Plymouth State at Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Mike Santoriello (Staten Island, N.Y./St.Joseph by the Sea) struck out a career-high 10 batters as the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) baseball team opened the Cal Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach with a 9-2 win over Plymouth State University on Saturday night. TJ Moussette (Centereach, N.Y./Newfield) went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and three runs scored in the triumph.

A near-midgame comeback fell short as the Bears lost the second game of their doubleheader, 14-7.

How it Happened (Game 1)

A bases-loaded walk gave the Bears an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with the Panthers tying the game in the next half inning. Moussette led off the bottom of the second with a double to right before swiping third. He scored on a Plymouth State defensive miscue. With two out, Louis Lombardi (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) brought in a pair of runs on a single to give the navy and gray a 4-1 advantage.

The Panthers scored a run in the third but their defensive errors in the Bears' half-inning gave SJBK a 5-2 lead. Santoriello shut down the opposing bats over the next three innings, allowing just a pair of baserunners and striking out a total of 10 batters. In the fifth, Moussette – who drew a leadoff walk – scored his third run of the game; confirming the Bears' 9-2 result.

How it Happened (Game 2)

Michael Gardener (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) doubled to right field in the top of the first, sending Lucas Collet (Toulouse, France/Lyc'ee Bellevue) home. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first knotted the contest at one apiece. Plymouth State's go-ahead run scored in the third before they erupted for seven in the fourth.

The Bears retaliated with six runs in the top of the fifth; all of which came with bases loaded. However, they left the bases jammed and were unable to do further damage to the Panthers' lead, 9-7. A pair of two-RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth propelled Plymouth State to a 14-7 win and a split of Saturday's doubleheader.

For the Bears (Game 1)

• Chris Leary (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) scored three runs and went 1-for-3 at the plate.

• Moussette stole a pair of bases while Gardener stole a bag himself.

• Gardener and Lombardi also recorded base knocks in the win.

• Santoriello allowed two runs, one earned, three hits, and a pair of walks in the triumph.

For the Bears (Game 2)

• Gardener went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. He also scored a run.

• Leary and Lombardi went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap. The latter scored a run in the fifth inning.

• Justin Conaty (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) started the second game on the bump. He struck out three Panthers and allowed a pair of runs, one earned, as he took the loss.

Up Next

With Sunday's game against New England College canceled due to inclement weather in South Carolina, the Bears return to action on Monday, March 13 at noon against Framingham State University; their penultimate game at the Cal Ripken Experience.