Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Mount Saint Mary College baseball team (1-1) opened the 2014 campaign with a 2-1 victory over St. Mary's College of Maryland (2-1) on Saturday, but dropped the second game of their opening-day doubleheader, 5-1, to split the first pair of games of the season with the host Seahawks.

The Knights got off to a quick start, scoring a run in each of the first two innings of game one for an early 2-0 lead. Senior leftfielder Vinnie Carminati (Huntington, N.Y.) kicked things off with an RBI single to center in the top of the first, scoring sophomore centerfielder Mike Leone (Staten Island, N.Y.) from second base. Freshman third baseman Rob Peccerello (Staten Island, N.Y.) followed suit in the second inning with an RBI single to center for the Knights' second run.

The Seahawks had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth after opening the inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, and then leftfielder Brandon Eady singled through the left side to knock in a run and move the tying run over to third with just one away. Sophomore starting pitcher Brandon Lubrano (Mineola, N.Y.) quickly worked his way out of the inning, forcing the next batter to hit into a double play and ending the Seahawk threat.

Lubrano earned his first win of the season, tossing six innings and allowing just a single run while striking out four batters. Sam Beatty shouldered the loss for the Seahawks, but had a solid game with seven strikeout and allowing two unearned runs. Freshman closer C.J. Szczesny (Syracuse, N.Y.) picked up the first save of his collegiate career, allowing just a single hit in his only inning of work.

Carminati batted 2-for-4 in the opener with an RBI. Peccerillo hit 1-for-3 with the other RBI, while Leone went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Jared Eaker led the Seahawks, going 2-for-3 with a double in game one. Eady went 1-for-3 with the team's only RBI, while Brad Dioguardo batted 1-for-2 with a run scored.

St. Mary's got on the board first in the nightcap, as third baseman Colin Thatcher knocked an RBI single to right to open the scoring in the second inning. Eady picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice in the third inning, and then designated hitter Kenny Beyer knocked in another with a single through the left side to put the Seahawks up, 3-0.

The Knights grabbed their only run of game two on a double steal in the fourth inning. Freshman shortstop Steve Notaro (Staten Island, N.Y.) stole second on the play, drawing a throw that allowed Carminati to swipe home.

Eady picked up another RBI for the Seahawks with a single in the fifth, and then they added another run on a wild pitch in the sixth that allowed shortstop Luke Green to score from third, putting St. Mary's up, 5-1.

Starter Michael O'Neill notched the victory for the Seahawks, tossing six innings of one-run ball and striking out four batters. Sophomore starting pitcher Sean Betterly (East Meadow, N.Y.) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs and four hits across 2.1 innings.

Eady picked up two more RBI in the second game with a 1-for-3 outing, while Beyer added an RBI while going 2-for-3. Second baseman Zach Rowe hit 1-for-3 for the Seahawks with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

Leone went 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot for the Knights in game two. Carminati went 1-for-3, stole two bases and scored a run, while Notaro hit 1-for-2 with a stolen base.

The Knights and Seahawks will complete their three-game series tomorrow, Feb. 23, with an 11 a.m. matchup.

Follow the Knights on Twitter at @MSMCKnights