Peacocks Split Against Gaels Score Highest Run Total of Season

Recap:

The Saint Peter's College baseball team split today's double-header against Iona College this afternoon by scores of 15-4, 5-6. The Peacocks set season highs in runs and hits in game one finishing with 15 and 17, respectively. After trailing 6-0 for 3-1/3 innings in the second game, SPC rallied to get within one after the fifth, but were unable to score the game-tying run in the final two frames. Zach Hopf pitched 8.0 innings and gave up 4 earned runs on 12 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 to receive the victory. Matt Mancini was credited with the loss in the second game after giving up 6 runs, 8 hits and 3 walks in 4.1 IP. 

Saint Peter's struck first in the first inning, recording a run off a sacrifice fly by Chris Grimes. Matt Speckmann, who started off the frame with a double down the right field line, advanced to third on a fly ball by Patt Farrell and scored on Grimes' sac fly. In the next inning, the Peacocks loaded the bases with two outs and registered the second run of the game as Speckmann advanced to first on a hit by pitch, bringing home Preston Aldridge.

Iona tied the score at 2-2 in the third inning on a two-run double, but SPC regained their advantage in the bottom of the frame on a double by Brian Schroeder to score Grimes. Senior third basemen Brian Koster tripled in the next at bat to put the Peacocks ahead 4-2, while a two-basehit from Aldridge extended the lead to three. Aldridge went to third on a wild pitch, and scored during Mike Scicutella's at bat on another wild pitch (6-2).

The Peacocks added four more runs in the fifth to go in front 10-2, all again with two outs. The first came on a infield RBI single by Pat Farrell to bring home Scicutella, followed by a two-run homerun by Chris Grimes- his fourth of the season.

Iona would score two runs in the sixth to come within sixth, but the hosts tacked on three more runs in the eighth. Zack Rawson led off the inning with a basehit to right and scored on Scicutella's triple to deep left center (11-4). Nick Henriquez followed with a pinch-hit walk and Pat Farrell proceeded to launch a three-run long-ball, his first the season (14-4). Gerard DeFilippo batted in the last Peacock run of the game (his first career RBI) on a single to left.

Saint Peter's out-hit the Gaels by a 17-13 margin, and committed the only error of the game. Chris Grimes finished a perfect 3-3, with 2 walks, 3 runs and 3 RBI. Pat Farrell went 2-6 with 2 runs and 4 RBI, while Brian Koster went 2-6 with 2 RBI and 1 run.

The last time the Peacocks recorded 17 hits in a contest was 2010, when they finished with 18 in a 10-9 win over Wagner on April 20^th. The last time they scored 15 runs was also in 2010, in a 16-7 victory against, FDU on May 5^th.

In game two, Saint Peter's trailed 6-0 for 3 and a half innings, but the Peacocks responded with five runs in two innings (2 in the fourth, 3 in the fifth) to come within one.

Farrell singled to start the fourth inning, and would later score on a sacrifice fly by Grimes. Schroeder followed with a bloop single and came home on a line-drive base hit by Stupienski to make the score 6-2.

One inning later, the Peacocks continued their offensive spurt, recording three runs on four hits. Freshman left fielder Nick Henriquez led off the frame with single to center and advanced to second on an infield single by Scicutella. Speckmann would crush a ball to the left field wall scoring both and bringing SPC within two at 6-4. With 2 outs, senior Koster hit a single to left center driving in Speckmann for the fifth Peacock run.

After a leadoff walk in the sixth, the Gaels closer, Thomas Kriss, retired the final six Peacock batters. 

Despite the loss, SPC out-hit the Gaels 10-8 and left 6 runners on base. Matt Speckmann (2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI) Brian Koster (2-4, 1 RBI) and Nick Henriquez (2-2, 1 rub) each finished with multi-hit games.

Saint Peter's concludes the 2012 season tomorrow against Iona at12pm.