Jennifer Hoffer – Sports Writer –
While finishing up their last few games in Fort Pierce, Fla., the Owls baseball team picked up two wins against Merrimack College and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, winning both games by a score of 8-1.
Junior Rocco Cundari struck out eight against Merrimack, giving the Owls their eighth win of the year.
Cundari would last eight innings, and was later relieved by senior Steve Landell.
Cundari had plenty of run support during the game. The Owls had a 4-1 lead after three innings.
Players like sophomore Matt Burns and junior T.J. Shea got an RBI each for the team in the seventh inning, giving the Owls an 8-1 win.
The Owls claimed victory in similar fashion as senior Ryan Yerina took the mound, only giving up four hits through six innings against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
The team never trailed in the game. Similar to the game against Merrimack, the Owls entered the fourth inning with a comfortable 4-0 lead over the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
The Owls pitching got it done as reliever’s sophomore Pat Egan, and juniors Will Meade and Tyler Albrecht came into the game, only giving up a combined three hits.
Yerina took the mound for the Owls Sunday afternoon in Haverhill, Mass. against Assumption College.
Fellow pitcher Cundari was impressed with game Yerina had.
“He had a great outing,” Cundari said. “He was one infield hit away from a perfect game. He didn’t try to do too much. He just threw strikes and got us outs.”
Yerina had a perfect game until the seventh inning, ending up with a one-hit complete game.
“Everyone played the first game,” Yerina said. “The second game, we got off to a rough start. We were battling back most of the game, but we were unable to secure the lead.”
Cundari said that the team had a lot of energy right from the beginning of the game because they were all hitting, pitching and playing defense will which is why he said they won the game by a comfortable 9-0 score.
“We didn’t let up the whole game to put them away early,” Cundari said.
The Owls fell to Assumption the second game 8-2.
Cundari started the game and said he felt the team wasn’t as focused and he was not pleased with him performance at all.
“I probably had one of the worst starts of my life,” Cundari said. “I had a hard time finding the zone, no excuses. It was just one of those days. But I can only make improvements in practice and get myself back to the game that I pitch and making sure that it never happens again.”
Hitting-wise Cundari said, they put the ball in play, but they just couldn’t get the runs across when they needed to.
“That’s why we practice, so we can work on our mistakes and come back for the next game stronger,” Cundari said.
The Owls’ return home for their first home game of the season to take on the University of Bridgeport today.