FLEMINGTON, N.J. – The Yeshiva University baseball team opened the 2018 season with a double-header against Utica College, at Diamond Nation, on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers won game one, 14-6, and were victorious in the second game, 20-1. UC advances to 2-0, while the Maccabees start the season at 0-2. The Pioneers were the home team in the opening game, while the Macs were the home team in the back-end of the double-header.
History was made as senior shortstop
Shmuli Goldis set a program record for career hits with 76. The record was previously held by Max Gornish ('09) who produced 74 hits during his collegiate career.
"It's an incredible honor and achievement to have broken this record, not only for myself, but for my team and my school," Goldis said. "I want to thank my coaches - past and present - and everyone who has stood by me throughout this journey. And to my teammates for always believing in me, and pushing me forward every day, every practice, and every game, to always work hard and be better."
In the first game, Utica scored six runs in the home half of the first to take a commanding lead. After falling behind by nine, Yeshiva began to string together a rally in the top of the third. Senior first baseman
Chaim Nosson Rosenberg produced a hard line drive that deflected off the glove of UC's first baseman and past the infield, resulting in a single. Sophomore second baseman
Zachary Baly drew a walk, in the next at-bat. With two outs, and two runners on, Goldis swung on the first pitch and lined the ball to center field for the program record-tying hit. Rosenberg scored to put YU on the board, as Goldis was credited with his first run batted in of the year.
Baly and sophomore third baseman
Mordy Kirsch led off the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles. Sophomore outfielder
Shmuel Silverstein was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. After YU pulled to within 10-3, senior outfielder
Mordechai Cohen took a 1-0 pitch and drilled it to center, scoring Silverstein and Goldis to pull the Maccabees to within five.
The Pioneers would answer in the next half inning as Tim Quinlan launched a three-run homer to left field, extending Utica's lead to 14-5.
Leading off the top of the seventh, Goldis was once again aggressive by swinging at the first pitch and singling to left field for the program record-breaking 75
th hit of his career.
The Pioneers went on to win the season-opener, 14-6.
For the game, Goldis scored two runs, while Baly and Kirsch each scored one. Sophomore outfielder
David Hanelin and junior outfielder
Aryeh Salovey each picked up a run batted in. On the mound, junior pitcher
Josh Fogel pitched a shutout inning in relief, striking out one Pioneer.
In game two, Utica scored nine runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Tom Carrigan, to go up 10-0, and never looked back. With a full count in the top of the seventh, Matthew Yazzo launched a three-run homer to centerfield to give the Pioneers a commanding 20-1 lead and that would be the final score.
For the game, Cohen produced a triple. He would eventually score Yeshiva's lone run off an RBI single by Rosenberg. Goldis produced his 76
th career hit, while also stealing a base. Silverstein added a hit of his own. On the mound, Fogel and Rosenberg combined to pitch three innings without allowing an earned run.
At the end of the day, Goldis reflected on how much the program record means to him. "I believe that achievements like this are just a stepping stone in the continuous growth of the baseball program, and pave the path for future athletes to come in and break records of their own," Goldis said. "Hard work and dedication do pay off."
The Maccabees will travel to Jamaica, N.Y. on Friday, for a double-header against the College of New Rochelle. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
