OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – Forced to play a home game on the road because of poor field conditions, the Mount Saint Mary College baseball team lost to SUNY College at Old Westbury, 10-7, in a Skyline Conference tournament first round game on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights (17-15) were eliminated from postseason play.

It was a promising start for the Mount as they would be first on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. After junior John Conroy (Middletown, N.Y.) reached on an error and junior Max Tecce (Glen Cove, N.Y.) singled, senior Louis Peisel (Brewster, N.Y.) doubled to left field to drive home both runners.

Old Westbury strung together four hits in the fifth frame and took the lead, 3-2, on a single from junior Joseph Guido (Baldwin, N.Y.).

The Knights answered quickly and effectively, plating five runs in the bottom half of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Tecce singled to right-center for a pair of runs and a 4-3 Mount lead. Peisel followed with a walk, loading the bases for sophomore Paul Cherubino (Middletown, N.Y.). Cherubino cleared the bases with a double to the right-center field gap, staking the Knights to a 7-3 advantage.

Old Westbury responded with a single run in the sixth and then crept to within one with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. In the top of the eighth, the Panthers took advantage of a Mount error and a run-scoring single from junior Blake Barbeito (Astoria, N.Y.) tied the game at 7-7. Then, with runners at first and third, senior Melvin Simmons (Bronx, N.Y.) doubled to left-center to score Barbeito with the go-ahead run.

The Knights went in order in the bottom of the eighth, leaving Old Westbury to tack on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. After a strikeout to start the inning, the Panthers put together three straight hits. A single from freshman Kevin Cohen (Wantagh, N.Y.) drove home the first run of the inning and the second run scored on the Mount's fourth error of the day.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Michael Morelli (Washingtonville, N.Y.) reached via a walk and moved to second when Conroy singled through the right side. Unfortunately, Tecce grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Old Westbury senior reliever Marvin Rosario (Lynbrook, N.Y.) earned the win for the Panthers, holding the Knights scoreless over the final three and a third innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.

For the Knights, sophomore relief pitcher Marc Soevyn (Elmont, N.Y.) was tagged with the loss. Junior starting pitcher Dan McCrea (Hicksville, N.Y.) allowed eight hits and four runs over five and two-thirds innings. Cherubino finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, while Tecce went 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBIs. Conroy also had a pair of hits in five at-bats and scored twice.

Old Westbury advances to play second-seeded Farmingdale State College in the first round of the double-elimination stage of the tournament on Friday.