Farmingdale State - 5, Southern Maine - 1

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team earned a 5-1 victory over Southern Maine today in a non-conference game in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams improved to 6-8 overall with the win, while the Huskies fell to 3-1.

Southern Maine got on the board in the first with an RBI single to right by senior third baseman Nick Grady (Whitefield, Maine). The Rams came back in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a double steal by freshman dh Dalton McCarthy (Manorville, N.Y.) and sophomore second baseman Tom Rydzewski (Franklin Square, N.Y.), who slid under the tag at home to tie the game at 1-1.

In the second, Farmingdale State sat the Huskies down 1-2-3 and then took a 2-1 lead. Sophomore right fielder Michael Marino (Franklin Square, N.Y.) opened the inning with a double to right field, before advancing to third on a wild pitch. With one out, junior centerfielder Edward Bergmann (East Meadow, N.Y.) converted a suicide squeeze, scoring Marino.

The Rams went up 3-1 in the third after Rydzewski scored on McCarthy's single through the right side, then added another run in the fourth for the 4-1 advantage. Bergmann opened the inning with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior pinch hitter Justin Steigerwald (Holbrook, N.Y.). Bergmann came home on a double to center by senior left fielder David Zilnicki (Riverhead, N.Y.).

Southern Maine had a chance in the sixth, with runners on first and second and the tying run at the plate. With a runner on first, freshman right hander Alex Weingarten (East Rockaway, N.Y.) relieved starter James Powers (Jamesport, N.Y.). Weingarten allowed one hit in the inning, but the Huskies stranded two runners on base.

Farmingdale State's Zilnicki scored in the seventh to give his team the 5-1 lead and the Rams allowed no hits over the final two innings to secure the win. Powers improved his record to 3-1 this season, surrendering just three hits and one run in five innings. Weingarten pitched four innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Zilnicki finished 3-for-3 for the day, with one run scored and one RBI. Rydzewski went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

For Southern Maine, Grady was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Rams will now host the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Saturday, March 23rd in a conference double-header starting at Noon.

*****