Rams Fall in Non-Conference Game against Staten Island

Staten Island - 9, Farmingdale State - 4

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team lost a non-conference game against Staten Island, 9-4, this afternoon in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams now stand at 12-12 on the season, while the Dolphins improved to 12-5 overall.

Staten Island loaded the bases on three consecutive singles to start the game, before senior catcher Tom DiPietro (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner) doubled to left center, putting the Dolphins ahead 3-0. Junior infielder Mark Glennerster (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peters) singled up the middle three batters later, scoring DiPietro and increasing the lead to 4-0. The Rams plated a run in the bottom half of the first when senior centerfielder Frank Yera (Manhattan, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) scored while Mike Labrozzi (Sag Harbor, N.Y./Pierson) was caught in a run down.

Trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth, senior leftfielder Vinny Block (Merrick, N.Y./Chaminade) hit a solo homerun to left center with two outs, to pull Farmingdale State within three.

After a strikeout and a fly out in the bottom of the seventh, freshman third baseman David Zilnicki (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead) walked and Yera singled, before senior catcher Zak Nersesian (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) singled through the right side, scoring Zilnicki and bringing Farmingdale within two runs at 6-4. Junior first baseman Kevin Curtis (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead) walked to load the bases, but the Rams were unable to score additional runs. Staten Island added three runs in the next inning and went on for the 9-4 non-conference win.

Nersesian was 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI, while Block was 1-for-3 with a homerun for Farmingdale State.

The Dolphins were led by DiPietro who was 3-for-5 with 5 RBI and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Pat Gale (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) and sophomore outfielder Joe Cassano (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) each added three hits for Staten Island.

Gale earned the win pitching 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven. Senior starting pitcher Ian Solomon (Northport, N.Y./Northport) took the loss for Farmingdale after giving up five runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Sophomore pitcher Chris Phelan (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) pitched 4.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Rams.

Farmingdale State will host Oneonta State at 3:30pm and CCNY at 7:00pm in a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday, April 7th.

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