Baseball Falls Short Against JWU In GNAC Championship

WP (1-2): Max Randazzo - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
LP (0-2): Misael Guzman - 1.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

Coming into the game with a chip on their shoulder the AMCATS started early, piling on five runs in the top of the first, setting the tone for the Championship Matchup. A sacrifice play from Jarrod Marifiote started the scoring off for the AMCATS after he ground out to the second baseman, allowing James Powers to make his way home. Jeremy Rosenberg set up the next scoring play with a single into left field pushing Kosta Drosidis home for the 2-0 AMCATS lead. With bases loaded, Tommy Sasso stepped up to the plate and sent one down the right side for an RBI single that sent Christian Villa and Jeremy Rosenberg home, tacking on two more runs in the top of the inning. With bases loaded yet again, Hunter Dunithan got hit by a pitch seeing Nick Genatossio in for the fifth and final run of the inning for the AMCATS. After holding the Wildcats scoreless in the bottom of the first, the AMCATS went into the second inning with a tremendous five run lead.

The AMCATS would go on to score two more runs in the top of the second with Rosenberg hitting a double into right field sending Marifiote through home. Villa would add to the fun with a single into left field for a run score by Rosenberg. The Wildcats returned the favor in the bottom of the inning scoring two runs on the AMCATS however still trailing 7-2 going into the third.

A Quick third inning after both teams held each other scoreless. Pushing on two a high scoring fourth inning. The AMCATS put away four runs in the top of the fourth, two of which came off a single from Powers out to left field pushing Sasso and Genatossio home. Leading 11-2 over the Wildcats heading into the bottom of the inning, the AMCATS were met with six JWU runs to close the gap to 11-8 at the end of the inning.

Looking for some insurance after the Wildcats scratched back at the AMCATS in the bottom of the fourth, the AMCATS tacked on two more runs in the fifth after Villa homered out to left field sending Rosenberg and himself across home plate for the AMCATS twelfth and thirteenth runs of the day. Holding JWU scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, the AMCATS still led 13-8.

Three quick outs for the AMCATS moved us into the bottom of the sixth where the Wildcats bared down on the AMCATS scoring six runs giving them a one run lead over Anna Maria at the close of the sixth inning.

The AMCATS were held held scoreless for the remainder of the game with the Wildcats putting away five runs in the bottom of the eighth. The AMCATS came up short in the end, trailing behind the Wildcats 19-13 at the end of the game. Christian Villa and Jeremy Rosenberg both with four for five at bat for the day with villa boasting four RBIs. Anthony Pingeton, Jeremy Rosenberg and James Powers were named to the GNAC All-Tournament team for their performance in the post season.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

-Anthony Pingeton breaks single season strikeout record. Surpassing Zach Rafferty (75 K's), with 88 strikeouts so far this season.

-Jarrod Marifiote breaks the single season RBI record with 50.

-Two AMCATS closed out the season batting over .400 (James Powers: .413 || Jarrod Marifiote: .407)

-James Powers boasted an impressive 64 hits this season and 10 home runs on the year.

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