DiLorenzo Tosses Shutout, McKenna Fastest to 100 Hits, Mendez First to 100 RBI as Baseball Splits with SUNYIT

MARCY, N.Y. – After receiving a dominant pitching performance from freshman Rosario DiLorenzo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) during a 7-0 win in the opening game versus SUNYIT, the St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) baseball team came within two outs of completing a doubleheader sweep of before a ninth inning rally gave the Wildcats the game two victory, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon.

The Bears (20-12) also split last year's doubleheader with the Wildcats (15-19) in the two team's lone previous meeting.

With a 3-for-5 effort in the nightcap, sophomore Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep) broke the Bears single-season hits record and also became the fastest to eclipse the 100-hit milestone. Driving in three runs on the afternoon, junior Joe Mendez (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) also became the first Bear to reach the 100-RBI mark.

In the opener, the Bears got off to a great start when Mendez lined an RBI double—his milestone RBI—to left field giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. That would prove to be all the run support DiLorenzo (5-1) would need as he cruised to the tune of a complete game, four-hit shutout to go along with his six strikeouts. The Bears three-run fifth inning, highlighted by Chris Cutrone's (Levittown, NY/Island Trees HS) steal of home plate, sealed the game one victory.

Game two was a heated battle that included seven lead changes, with both teams countering the other's scoring frames and resulting in a 5-5 deadlock after the regulation seven innings. After both teams posted solo runs in the first extra inning, the Bears took the upper hand again scoring two runs in the ninth on a sacrifice squeeze from Vincent Rossi (Bayside, NY/Holy Cross) and a RBI single from Domenick Camerada (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell). With St. Joseph's now leading 8-6, SUNYIT rallied to tie with no outs and won the game with catcher Anthony Ragosta providing the walk off single.

Mendez had a tremendous day at the plate, going 5-for-9 in the twinbill including a home run, a double, three RBI and three runs. Camerada finished 3-for-6 with two RBI and Cutrone batted 4-for-9 contributing two RBI and two runs.

Turning Point - Game 1

With the Bears leading 1-0 in the SUNYIT third, a leadoff double and one-out single had the Warriors threatening, but DiLorenzo was able to quickly escape the jam by snagging a line drive up the middle and doubling up the runner from first base.

Already leading 1-0, a two-out, bases-clearing, three-run double in the second inning from Cutrone gave St. Joseph's some breathing room and more than enough support for DiLorenzo. Cutrone finished the opening game going 2-for-4 with those three RBI, a run and a stolen base.

Turning Point - Game 2

Tied 6-6 moving to the top of the ninth the Bears got off to a great start when McKenna led off with a single, followed by Mendez reaching on an error and advancing to second. Rossi sacrificed in McKenna giving the Bears the lead once again. Camerada followed with an RBI single, plating Mendez as the Bears eighth run.

Cutrone came on in the bottom of the ninth looking for his second save of the year, but a walk and a single led to a game-tying RBI triple from Wildcat outfielder Joseph O'Rourke. With no one out, the Bears decided to setup the force at home plate by intentionally walking the next two batters.  Cutrone struck out the next hitter but Ragosta came up clutch for the Wildcats, delivering a single to end the game.

Inside the Box Score

• DiLorenzo allowed only two runners to reach second base in game one, and only one advanced to third.
• Junior lefthander Kenny Smith (Belle Harbor, NY/Monsignor McClancy) made his first start of the season throwing 3.1 innings allowing four hits, four earned runs along with eight walks and two strikeouts.
• Senior Joe Chiusano (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) tossed 3.1 strong innings in relief in game two allowing only one unearned run on four hits setting himself up for his first career win before the Wildcats rallied in the ninth with Cutrone taking the loss. 
• Mendez hit his fourth homer of the season in game two, tying him for the team lead with first baseman Mike Cundari.
• St. Joseph's pitchers struggled to find the strike zone in game two allowing 17 free passes to Wildcat hitters.

News and Notes

• DiLorenzo's second shutout of the season was only the fifth in Bears history and matches the season and career record set by Paul Piccirillo last season.
• McKenna broke the single-season hits record (previously 49) that he previously shared with Kevin Diaz. He also became the sixth Bear to reach the 100-hit milestone and the fastest to reach the mark, 67 games also surpassing Diaz by three games.

Next up for the Bears - Lehman

Thursday's road game at Lancaster Bible College has been canceled. The Bears will have several days off before heading on the road to take on Lehman College on Friday, May 3rd, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.