Box Score Box Score

FISHKILL, N.Y. – Behind a stellar emergency relief appearance from junior Trevor Johnson (Fort Drum, N.Y.), John Jay College of Criminal Justice (1-10) defeated Mount Saint Mary College (5-7) by a final score of 3-2 in non-conference action on Thursday at Dutchess Stadium.

Johnson was forced into action when freshman starting pitcher Alex Depasquale (White Plains, N.Y.) went down with a gruesome leg injury while covering first base in the bottom of the first.  The junior would go on to throw 100-plus pitches in a spectacular relief effort and earned the first win of the season for the Bloodhounds.  Johnson worked eight and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out three.

The teams traded runs in the early innings, as the Mount struck for one run in the bottom of the second and John Jay answered with a run in the top of the third.  For the Knights, senior Michael Morelli (Washingtonville, N.Y.) beat out an infield single and then scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Matt Cahill (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.).  John Jay freshman Nick Gioia (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) led off the third with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored when freshman Luca Altamirano (Flushing, N.Y.) laced a single to right-center.

The Knights took the lead with one run in the fifth.  Senior Joe Clarke (Maybrook, N.Y.) walked and moved to third on a single through the right side from freshman James Nakashian (Massapequa, N.Y.).  With two outs, freshman Mike Leone (Staten Island, N.Y.) plated Clarke with a single to left-center.

But the Bloodhounds were quick to answer once again, this time scoring two runs in the sixth.  Altamirano created the first run all by himself following an infield single.  The freshman moved to second on a fielder's choice, stole third, and then scored when the catcher's throw went down the left field line.  Junior Billy Moran (Brooklyn, N.Y.) followed with a single and then moved to third on a double from freshman Steven Donato (Watertown, N.Y.).  With one out, sophomore Ryan Corrigan (Smithtown, N.Y.) lofted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Moran to score what would turn out to be the game-winning run.

The Bloodhounds flashed some leather in the late innings to preserve the one-run lead.  Second baseman Gioia snagged a line drive with a dive to his right to end the seventh, while Corrigan backhanded a groundball inside the line at third and completed the throw across the diamond to end a Mount threat in the eighth.

Morelli continued to swing a hot bat for the Knights in a 3-for-4 effort that included a run scored, while Cahill added a pair of hits in four at-bats.  Senior Justin Christensen (Carmel, N.Y.) allowed seven hits and three runs over five and a third to take the loss for the Mount.

The Knights return to action on Monday, April 1 with a trip to CCNY.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.