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Seton Hall Athletics[/caption]
After winning the first game of Saturday’s double-header, 3-2, the Seton Hall baseball team fell to Villanova in Game 2 by a score of 12-10.
Despite scoring 10 runs on 10 hits and jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning, the Pirates’ bullpen was unable to contain the Villanova bats late in the game.
Early in the contest the Hall’s offense was clicking.
The Pirates jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning. After reaching base on an error, Joe Poduslenko was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Sal Annunziata to give SHU a 1-0 lead.
Thanks to an RBI single from Derek Jenkins in the second inning and a two-run triple from freshman Ryan Ramiz in the third, the Pirates stretched out to a 4-1 lead.
The Pirates would get six combined runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but that would be it for the team’s offense.
After starting pitcher Zach Prendergast allowed three runs through three innings, the Pirates brought in junior relief pitcher Sam Burum.
Initially, Burum was sharp, pitching three scoreless innings. However, in his fourth inning of work he found himself in trouble. Burum went on to allow two earned runs, though Villanova was able to score five runs in total because of an error in the field, cutting Seton Hall’s lead to 10-6.
Dan Ditusa came into the game to relieve Burum but only lasted a third of an inning. He gave up three earned runs on two hits and one walk.
Joe DiBenedetto immediately came in to relieve Ditusa. Entering today’s contest, DiBenedetto had not allowed an earned run all season. However, Villanova had his number this afternoon, scoring three runs on five hits in just one and a third inning.
DiBenedetto collected his first loss of the season.
Things were better for the Pirates earlier in the day.
Led by senior starting pitcher Anthony Elia, the Pirates were able to knock off Villanova, 3-2, in Game 1 of the double-header.
Elia was stellar in his fourth start of the season. He pitched eight innings, allowed just two runs on seven hits and struck out seven batters to propel the Hall to victory.
Annunziata put the Pirates on the board in the first inning with an RBI double that drove in Kyle Grimm. Annunziata finished the game 3 for 3 with a run, one RBI and a walk.
Later, in the third inning Grimm got an RBI of his own with a groundout to second base, which scored Zack Weigel.
In the top of the sixth inning, Seton Hall was able to capitalize on an Alex Falconi pop fly that was dropped by David Gulati, which allowed Annunziata to score the third run for the Pirates.
Following their 7-5 loss to the Wildcats yesterday, the Pirates were sitting in a three-way tie with Villanova and Butler for third place in the conference standings.
After splitting today’s double-header and collecting two wins, the Pirates are 7-8 in the Big East.
Seton Hall will return to action at home on Thursday for a three-game series with Big East opponent Georgetown. The Hoyas currently sit sixth in the conference standings with a 5-8 record.
This will be a very important series for the Pirates as they look to secure position in the Big East tournament.
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