 "Photo: Courtesy of www.quinnipiacbobcats.com")
The Quinnipiac University baseball team opened their 2010 season with a three-game weekend series against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, but were unable to muster a win. They were soundly defeated in each game, outscored by a combined total of 48-16, but were able to muster solid offensive production from junior third baseman Joe Poletsky and sophomore catcher Kyle Nisson.
On Friday afternoon, the Bobcats dropped the first game of the series, 17-6. Senior pitcher Mike Oskandy started for Quinnipiac, but he did not last long on the mound. The righty lasted only 2 1/3 innings, surrendering nine hits and 12 runs, seven of which were earned, while walking two and striking out one.
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Senior outfielder Brian Monack blasted a two-run home run off of NC State freshman right-hander Ethan Ogburn. However, the tide turned quickly, as the Wolfpack got one run back in the bottom of the first and never looked back, scoring five in the second inning and seven in the third.
Trailing 14-2 in the top of the sixth, the Bobcats managed to score four runs. Poletsky led the inning off with a single and sophomore first baseman Gabe Guerino followed Poletsky’s hit with a single of his own. Sophomore second baseman Chris Migani then ripped a single past NC State shortstop Matt Bergquist to score Poletsky. After designated hitter Jeff Carino was hit by a pitch to load the bases, junior shortstop Mickey Amanti and Nisson each recorded an RBI single. The fourth run of the inning was scored when junior leftfielder Ben Farina hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field that brought Carino home.
NC State junior catcher Chris Schaeffer led the way for the Wolfpack as he was 4-for-5 on the afternoon with a home run and three runs batted in.
The second game of the series was very similar to the first, with the Bobcats on the wrong end of a lopsided score, falling by a score of 14-3. NC State junior pitcher Jake Buchanan took the hill and silenced the Bobcats’ bats, throwing six shutout innings and surrendering only four hits, while striking out seven. Quinnipiac sent senior Todd DeFrancesco out to start the game, but once again, Head Coach Dan Gooley had to make an early call to the bullpen. DeFrancesco lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up nine runs, five hits and four walks.
The Wolfpack drove in two runs in the second and third innings, and expanded their lead in the bottom of the fourth. NC State scored nine runs in the frame on just five hits to take a 13-0 lead. Defensive woes crippled Quinnipiac, as they recorded two errors in the inning. The Bobcats’ defense was responsible for 13 errors in the series, including an astounding seven errors in Saturday’s contest.
The Bobcats finally got on the board in the top of the seventh, when Nisson singled to center field, scoring Carino from second. Quinnipiac scored twice in the top of the ninth, when freshman outfielder Ray Buckley, pinch-hitting for Farina, singled to right field, scoring freshman catcher Kevin Spano and junior outfielder Mike Bartlett.
NC State freshman catcher Danny Canela and senior second baseman Dallas Poulk each recorded a home run and three RBIs in the blowout victory.
In Sunday afternoon’s series finale, the Bobcats were again defeated, 17-7, completing the weekend sweep. Monack was tabbed as the starting pitcher for Sunday’s contest and surrendered eight hits and eight runs over four innings of work.
Quinnipiac saw a glimmer of hope in the top of the fourth inning. Trailing by seven, the Bobcats scored four runs to close the gap to 7-4.
NC State sophomore starting pitcher Mike Russo was pulled after walking Migani and giving up a line-drive single to Carino. Amanti hit a frozen rope to center field which drove in Migani and put Quinnipiac on the board.
Russo’s reliever, freshman right-hander Felix Roque, provided hardly any relief in the fourth. After a wild pitch moved Carino to third, senior centerfielder Ryan Ullrich walked to load the bases. Farina then singled, scoring two runners to make it 7-3. Another Roque wild pitch then brought Ullrich home, before Monack grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Wolfpack responded by scoring once in the bottom of the fourth, then plating three runs in the bottom of the sixth, one in the bottom of the seventh and five in the bottom of the eighth, with the Bobcats unable to score any of their own during that stretch. With the score at 17-4 in the ninth inning, Quinnipiac scored three times. Carino’s ground-out to second scored Monack, and Amanti laced a single up the middle that scored two runs.
Poulk again led the offensive attack for the Wolfpack on Sunday. He was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two walks and five runs scored as NC State completed the sweep.
The Bobcats continued their season-opening twelve-game road trip by dropping both games in a two game series against Duke on Monday and Tuesday afternoon. The Bobcats lost by scores of 10-3 and 5-0.
In Monday’s 10-3 loss, Poletsky kept up his strong play by going 2-for-4 and scored two runs for Quinnipiac. Poletsky got the offense started early for the Bobcats as he hit a single through the left side to get on base at the top of the second. He then moved to third on a single up the middle by Guerino. Poletsky would then score on a sacrifice fly by Buckley. Duke quickly answered by driving in four runs in the bottom the inning.
Quinnipiac would wait until the fourth inning to respond and would bring the score within in one to 4-3. Again Poletsky would be pivotal to the Bobcats rally as he started things off with a single. Guerino would once again move Poletsky to third on a single and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Poletsky then scored on a sacrifice fly by Migani. Guerino would then come around to score on a single by Ullrich.
It was the last run the Bobcats would score in the series. Quinnipiac starter Anthony Cinelli lasted six innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs.
Quinnipiac would go on to lose by the score of 5-0 on Tuesday despite Poletsky’s fourth multi-hit game of the season. Junior pitcher Kyle Birdsall took the mound for the Bobcats and gave up four hits and four earned runs over four innings.
The Bobcats continue their road trip as they take on Virginia Commonwealth University on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.
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