Patchogue, N.Y. – Junior
Ryan Hayes (Robbinsville, N.J.) worked 6.0 innings and senior
Joey Pugliese (Highland, N.Y.) drove in three runs as the Mount Saint Mary College Baseball team eliminated top-seeded St. Joseph's-L.I. and advanced to the Skyline Conference Championship Final Round with an 8-5 victory over the Golden Eagles on Sunday.
The Knights got off to a good start in the elimination contest with three first inning hits that resulted in the game's first run.
John Santana (Warwick, N.Y.) and
Christopher Introcaso (Newburgh, N.Y.) recorded two out singles to put two on in front of
Tom Huvane (Eastchester, N.Y.) who shot a single to left that pushed home Santana for the early 1-0 lead.
The Mount's lead grew to 4-0 in the third when it took advantage of two base hits, three walks and a hit batter to plate three runs. After Santana walked and Huvane was hit with a pitch,
Vincenzo Pepe (Middletown, N.Y.) drove in a run with a one-out single to push the Knights in front 2-0.
After
Kevin Edgar (Southampton, N.Y.) singled to load the bases,
Chris McLaren (Cornwal-on-Hudson, N.Y.) and Pugliese drew walks to plate the Mount's third and fourth runs of the game.
St. Joseph's got on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Knights broke the game open and took an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Knights strung together five hits in the inning, including a two-run single from Pugliese. Santana added an RBI double in the inning and was chased home on a two-out single from Introcaso.
The Golden Eagles mounted a late rally with three runs in the sixth inning and a run in the seventh to climb to within the final 8-5 decision. Daniel Campanelli and Anthony Raucci drove in runs with base hits the sixth, with Anthony Bonilla delivering the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Mount Saint Mary outhit St. Joseph's 12-8 in the game, with five Knights posting two hits. Santana finished 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. Introcaso, Pepe, Edgar and
Peter Knights (White Plains, N.Y.) all finished with a pair of safeties with Introcaso and Pepe adding RBI. Pugliese led the Knights with three RBI and added a run scored.
Hayes moved his record to 2-2 on the season with 6.0 effective innings. He allowed four runs on six hits and struck out one batter.
Blake Keenan (Fishkill, N.Y.), who won in a complete game on Wednesday at Old Westbury, picked up his first save of the season with 3.0 innings of work out of the bullpen.
Sunday's win moves Mount Saint Mary to 15-27 overall on the season. The Knights advance to face Maritime in the Final Round of the championship on Monday with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Patchogue, N.Y.
