Columbia
Maine
Baseball Splits With Maine
3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, FLA. - In the top of the seventh inning and down 6-5, sophomore Dan Neczypor hit a two-run home run to lift the Lions over Maine 7-6 in the first game of the team's doubleheader. Columbia dropped the second game 16-6.
In the first game, Maine took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on four hits and one Columbia error. The Lions took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring five runs off of six hits. With one out, first-year Ron Williams singled his way on and was moved over to second as fellow first-year Mike Roberts drew a walk. Williams scored on a single up the middle from first-year Joey Mizzoni and Roberts crossed the plate on a single from senior Marc Gold. Mizzoni was hit in on a single from junior Craig Rodwogin and with two outs, both sophomore Mike Malfettone and senior Michael DeFazio hit RBI singles to score Gold and Rodwogin to end the scoring for the inning. The Black Bears tied up the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two RBI single. And put up another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead. The Lions however, took the lead back in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Neczypor. Rodwogin led off the inning with a double and with a 1-0 count, Neczypor hit a homerun over the right centerfield fence to give the Lions a 7-6 lead.
Andrew Walther came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and with two outs and runners on first and second, he struck out the final Maine batter looking for the win.
Senior Nick Oleksak (1-0) earned the win for the Lions, pitching two thirds of an inning, allowing no hits and no runs and Walther recorded his first save of the season. Malfettone led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one RBI while Rodwogin and Roberts also had two hits a piece.
In the second game, Maine got on the board early and often, taking a 10-0 lead in the top of the second. The Black Bears put up two more runs in the top of the third on two hits and one Columbia error. The Lions got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, getting three runs on four hits. First-year Kyle Roberts singled to start the inning and with one out Gold singled and Rodwogin walked to load the bases. Roberts scored on a wild pitch and Gold scored on a sacrifice fly from Neczypor. Rodwogin crossed the plate on a single by Williams to finish out the scoring for the inning.
The Black Bears scored one run in both the fourth and fifth inning to go ahead 14-3. Columbia scored another run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kyle Roberts singled in senior Noah Cooper to cut the lead to 14-4. Maine was able to push across two more runs in the top of the seventh and the Lions matched them, scoring two themselves in the bottom half of the inning.
Rodwogin, Neczypor and first-year Jake Summerhays started the inning with three singles to load the bases and first-year Spencer Silverstein singled to score Rodwogin. Neczypor headed home on a sacrifice fly from senior Andrew Hooker to end the game 16-6.
Starter Henry Perkins took the loss for Columbia, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing nine hits and 10 runs (eight earned). Rodwogin finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and Kyle Roberts also had two hits and one RBI.
Columbia finishes up its three game series with Maine tomorrow, Saturday, March 18. The game will be played on Florida Atlantic's campus and will begin at noon.
