RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – The Yeshiva University baseball team dropped both ends of its Skyline Conference double-header to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (22-0 and 20-4), at Ridgefield Park, on Sunday afternoon. The Mariners advance to 23-7 overall (10-4 Skyline), while the Maccabees fall to 3-13 overall (0-12 Skyline).
In the first game, USMMA scored eight runs in the top of the second and never looked back. Quinton Heck earned the win for the Mariners on the mound, pitching five shutout innings with six strikeouts. Junior pitcher
Aryeh Salovey took the loss. Freshman catcher
Simon Schoen and sophomore third baseman
Mordy Kirsch each produced a single, while sophomore left fielder
Shmuel Silverstein reached base with a walk.
In the second game, Merchant Marine's lineup continued to produce with four runs in the opening inning. However, the Maccabees answered in the bottom frame. With runners on first and second, one out, sophomore right fielder
Sonny Braha singled to right to score senior shortstop
Shmuli Goldis, and put the Macccabees on the board. After Braha stole second, sophomore center fielder
David Hanelin produced an RBI on an infield single to score senior first baseman
Chaim Nosson Rosenberg. Braha ended up scoring on a throwing error to narrow the Mariners' lead to one run. Sophomore second baseman
Zachary Baly continued YU's momentum with a double to right field. Hanelin would then score from third on an RBI groundout by Kirsch to tie the game, 4-4.
USMMA regained the lead with two runs in the top of the second. Sophomore pitcher
Alex Malech came in relief in the third and held the Mariners scoreless for his first two innings. However, Merchant Marine's lineup exploded with five runs in the fifth, four runs in the sixth, and five more in the seventh to go on and earn the sweep.
For the game, Andrew Hunt got the win in relief, pitching four scoreless innings without giving up a walk, surrendering just two hits, and striking out four YU batters. John Kelly Jr. struck out two in one shutout inning of work. For the Maccabees, Hanelin started the game and took the loss.
At the plate for the Macs, Goldis produced a hit and stole a base, while Hanelin and Baly each went 2-for-3, with the latter picking up one stolen base. Rosenberg drew a walk.
Yeshiva will return to Ridgefield Park on Tuesday, for a non-conference double-header against John Jay, beginning at 5:00 p.m.