Eastern Connecticut - 11, Farmingdale State - 6
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State College baseball team opened the 2026 season on Sunday afternoon with an 11-6 non-conference loss to Eastern Connecticut State University.
The visiting Warriors (3-2) struck early with three runs in the top of the first inning. After a walk and single put two runners aboard, J.T. Clark delivered a two-run double to left center before Devin Kulas added an RBI double down the left field line to give Eastern Connecticut the early 3-0 advantage.
Farmingdale State (0-1) answered in the bottom half of the inning when junior second baseman Ryan Wasserman (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) reached base and later scored on a Warriors error to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Eastern Connecticut extended their lead in the third inning. Following an error to begin the frame, Hank Penders hit a two-run home run to right center. Later in the inning, Kulas drove in another run with a groundout and Dylan Jackson added an RBI single as the Warriors pushed the advantage to 7-1.
In the fourth inning, FSC freshman left fielder Matt Faraone (East Yaphank, N.Y.) tripled to center field before junior third baseman Aiden Mehmel (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt moved Mehmel to third, senior Christopher Sais (Hicksville, N.Y.) grounded out to first to bring home another run, trimming the score to 7-3.
Farmingdale State cut the deficit to just one in the seventh. After senior first baseman Dom LaFroscia (Sayville, N.Y.) walked and senior outfielder Richie Heyder (Holbrook, N.Y.) was hit-by-pitch, a pair of wild pitches allowed LaFroscia to score. Later in the inning, Faraone delivered his second triple of the game, driving in sophomore shortstop Kaolis Delacruz (Levittown, N.Y.) and Heyder to pull the Rams within one at 7-6.
Eastern Connecticut responded in the eighth with a sacrifice fly followed by Penders' second home run of the game to make it 9-6.
The Warriors added two more runs in the ninth inning as they went on for the 11-6 victory.
Faraone led the Rams, going 2-for-4 with two triples and two RBI's. Wasserman recorded two hits with one run scored, while Mehmel added a hit, a run and one run batted in.
On the mound, senior Derek Watts (Baldwin, N.Y.) took the loss after allowing three runs in two innings of work. The Rams used six relievers the rest of the way, including two scoreless innings apiece from senior TJ Cox (Mineola, N.Y.) and freshman Tyler Lynch (Deer Park, N.Y.).
Penders led Eastern Connecticut with three hits, two home runs and three RBI's in the victory.
Farmingdale State will next head to Florida for its annual Spring Break trip from March 12-19, where the Rams are scheduled to play seven games.
