Skyline Conference Sweep Earned On Senior Day

NEWBURGH – The Mount Saint Mary College Baseball team won its fifth Skyline Conference series of the season on Saturday, posting a come-from-behind 8-6 game one win and a 1-0 game two win over St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn. John Santana and Steven Mirra each had three hits in game one, while senior Ryan Hayes threw a complete game shutout in game two.

Game 1: Mount Saint Mary 8 – St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn 6
After falling behind 3-0 and 6-2 in the opener, the Knights scored six unanswered runs over their final three at-bats to rally for the victory. The Knights scored two runs in the sixth, highlighted by a run scoring triple from Santana, to pull to within 6-4.

The Knights took advantage of three hits, two hit batters and a run scoring walk in the seventh to surge in front for good in the game. Nick Rizzo got the Knights to within a run with a bases load walk and Anthony Rizzo pushed the Mount in front for the first time in the game with a two-run single. Christopher Introcaso delivered the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

Santana rounded out the game one win 3-for-3 with a triple, run scored and an RBI. Mirra wrapped up the win 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Anthony Rizzo and Jack Goodwin each recorded two hits in the win with Chris McLaren ripping a double and scoring twice.
Jake Stewart went 8.0 innings for the Knights and moved to 3-2 on the season. He surrendered four earned runs on 11 hits, striking out two Bears. Michael DiGiovanni earned his first career save with a scoreless ninth, striking out one.

Game 2: Mount Saint Mary 1 – St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn 0
Hayes was the story in game two, firing his second complete game and first shutout of the season. He moved to 5-1 on the season and lowered his earned run average to 3.65 after giving up just three hits and fanning six.

The Mount Saint Mary defense also played a big role in the win, cutting down two runners at the plate. Goodwin finished with two assists from centerfield, cutting down a runner to complete a double play in the third and delivering a strike on a two-out hit in the seventh that cut down the potential tying run.

The only run of the game came in the home half of the fourth when Blake Keenan drove in his 14th run of the season. After Santana led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and groundout, he came home when Keenan ran a double up the right center field gap.

Keenan finished game two 2-for-3 with an RBI with Santana picking up another hit and scoring the game’s lone run. Anthony Rizzo, Introcaso and Tom Huvane also registered hits for the Knights in game two.

St. Joseph’s also got a strong pitching performance, with Peter Terranova taking the tough luck loss. He allowed just one run on six hits in a complete game effort.