FLEMINGTON, N.J. – The Yeshiva University baseball team dropped two games to Utica University, at Diamond Nation, on Sunday afternoon. The Maccabees (2-3) fell in the opening game, 14-1, while the Pioneers (2-0) clinched the sweep with a 17-1 victory in the second contest.
The highlight for the Maccabees in game one was senior
Leib Fant, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI single. He produced the hit that scored senior
Judah Blonder in the top of the seventh. Earlier in the frame, sophomore
Aharon Weiden connected on a ground-rule double to center field, while Blonder led it off with a single. Also, during the game, sophomore
Sammy Greenberg singled and walked, while junior
Shai Rosalimsky used his speed to grind out an infield single.
On the defensive side, Rosalimsky picked off a Utica base runner trying to score from third, by throwing back to senior pitcher
Adam Zahler, who tagged the opposing runner before he touched home plate to close out the sixth inning.
It was not enough for the Maccabees as the Pioneers scored at least one run in every inning to earn the wire-to-wire victory.
Junior Brendan May highlighted the opening game for Utica by hitting a solo home run and driving in a run courtesy of a single. Senior Michael Muentener cleared the bases with a three-run triple in the bottom of the second inning that extended Utica's lead to 4-0. Senior James Roeschlaub got the win on the mound for Utica.
In game two, Fant had another RBI by producing a ground ball that scored senior
Max Leibowitz from third during the top half of the fourth inning. Leibowitz doubled earlier in the frame. Weiden, Greenberg, and sophomore
Joshua Mintz each hit a single during game two.
The Maccabees managed to turn a triple play in the bottom of the second. On an infield fly rule, with runners on first and second, the ball dropped in front of Fant at second base. The second baseman threw the ball to the shortstop, Leibowitz, who tagged out two runners who left their respective bases too early to complete the second and third outs of the triple play.
Utica's lineup had another strong game as the Pioneers scored four runs in the opening frame and never looked back. Junior Joe Crossley smashed a three-run shot over the fence in the home half of the third, while graduate student Joe Battista connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Jack Krug earned his first collegiate win on the mound for the Pioneers.
Yeshiva will open Skyline play next Sunday with a doubleheader at Manhattanville College. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
