Bears Score 23 Runs in Rout of CCNY

BRONX, NY – St. Joseph's baseball scored the most runs in a game since April of 2009 in Wednesday afternoon's 23-4 win over CCNY.  It was the second time this season that the Bears have beaten the Beavers, both times with Paul Piccirillo (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverien) on the hill.

Piccirillo continues his impressive season improving the 6-0 on the season.  He has now allowed just five earned runs in his last four starts, spanning 30 innings.  Piccirillo threw six innings on Wednesday, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out eight.

The offense gave Piccirillo a big cushion before he even stepped onto the mound.  St. Joseph's sent 14 batters to the plate in the opening frame, scoring nine runs and knocking seven hits.  Joe Mendez (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) had two singles in the inning and Vinny Rossi (Bayside, NY/Holy Cross) picked up two of his game-high-tying four RBI with a bases-loaded single to left.

The Bears weren't satisfied with the nine-run first inning, scoring four runs in the second and six more in the fourth.  Kevin Diaz (Staten Island/Monsignor Farrell) had RBI doubles in both frames and Rossi picked up his final two RBI with an opposite-field triple to right in the fourth.

The top six hitters in the Bears' order all had multiple-hit games and for the second consecutive game every Bear starter had at least one hit and one run or RBI. 

Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep) became the first Bear to record five hits in a game since Joe Harten in March, 2010.  McKenna's five singles  give him 32 for the season and 12 in his last three games.  McKenna also scored a game-high four runs and had two RBI.  Chris Cutrone (Levittown, NY/Island Trees HS) picked up four hits including two doubles while scoring three runs and driving in three more.

The Bears are back at MCU Park tomorrow for a single afternoon game against Baruch.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.