Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) recorded three RBIs in the final four innings of the opener and John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) tossed a two-hit shutout in the nightcap to propel Saint Peter's to a doubleheader sweep against Iona in the opening day of the a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) three-game baseball series on Saturday. The Peacocks won the opener 7-5 and then took the nightcap, 2-0.
Kristoffersen tied the game at 2 in the sixth with an RBI triple and then added run-scoring hits in the seventh and ninth to help seal the victory in the opener. The junior went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the opener and then added a run in the nightcap.
In a battle of former Major League Baseball pitcher bloodlines, Leiter outdueled Mariano Rivera, the son of former New York Yankees closer and future Hall of Famer by the same name. Leiter, the nephew of Al and Mark Leiter, tossed a two-hit seven-inning shutout with four strikeouts for his first win of the season. Rivera was the hard-luck loser of the nightcap after allowing two runs on one hit with 10 strikeouts.
Kyle Grimes (Iselin, N.J./JFK Memorial) posted two hits and three runs scored including a run scored in the nightcap. Nick Henriquez (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) added two hits and two RBIs for Saint Peter's (6-23-1, 5-6 MAAC) while Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) registered two hits, two RBIs and a run scored in the opener.
Carmine Palummo recorded a hit and three RBIs for the Gaels (11-25, 6-8 MAAC) in the opener while Seth Hoagland posted two hits and two RBIs in the first game.
Saint Peter's rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the opener to take the opener 7-5.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Grimes walked and came around to score on Kristoffersen's run-scoring triple to tie the game at 2 before Hugg plated Kristoffersen on an RBI double to give the Peacocks the lead for good at 3-2.
Two errors in the seventh aided Saint Peter's to score a run to increase the lead to 4-2. Vinny Maietta (Franklin Square, N.J./St. Marys) and Sean Henry (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) each reached on an error to put runners at the corners with no outs. With two outs, Maietta scored on a bunt base hit by Kristoffersen for a two-run lead.
Palummo answered for Iona with an RBI groundout in the seventh to trim the margin to 4-3.
The Peacocks then added three insurance runs in the ninth to increase the margin to four runs. Grimes singles with one out and came around to score for the second time on the afternoon on Kristoffersen's triple to right center. Hugg brought home Kristoffersen on an RBI infield single. After Hugg stole second, the senior touched home on Henriquez's run-scoring single to center for a 7-3 advantage.
Hoagland trimmed the margin to 7-5 on a two-run single up the middle with one out, but Anthony Assante (Brick, N.Y./Brick Memorial) came in to earn his second save of the season with a fielder's choice and a line out.
Palummo got the scoring started in the afternoon on a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead for the Gaels after the first inning.
Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) tripled to left center and touched home on Henriquez's RBI ground out to tie the game at 1 in the second inning.
Iona retook the lead in the fifth when Palummo reached on a bases loaded hit by pitch for a 2-1 edge, but Saint Peter's scored six of the next seven runs to come away with the victory.
Kevin Soriano (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched for his first win of the season.
In the nightcap, a pitcher's duel between Leiter and Rivera was decided in the fourth inning after the Peacocks scored twice to earn the 2-0 victory.
Grimes broke up Rivera's perfect game when he reached first to open the fourth and then advanced to second on a passed ball. After Kristoffersen reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners, Kristoffersen stole second and then both runners moved up on a wild pitch to plate Grimes with the first run. Kristoffersen then touched home on a passed ball to increase the lead to 2-0.
Leiter only allowed three base runners on the day and faced only two batters over the minimum. The junior only had a runner reach second in the sixth after a base hit and the runner moved to second on a fly out with one out, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the threat.
Saint Peter's has won its first series since sweep Rider in a three-game set on Apr. 12-13. The Peacocks have won two-straight for the second time this season and the second time in eight games.
Saint Peter's looks to complete the sweep in the final game of the three-game series against Iona on Sunday. First pitch is 1 p.m.
