',
Storm Walk-Off with First Win
March 31, 2009
Freshman Ben Przepiora singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
The Keuka baseball team got a much needed victory in thrilling fashion as they earned a 7-6 win in extra innings over the visiting Nittany Lions of Penn State-Berks on Sunday, March 29 at Kuhl Field. Game two was suspended in the fourth inning with Keuka leading 5-1. The game will only be made up if necessary.
Freshman catcher Ben Przepiora (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) delivered the walk-off single, scoring junior Craig Pittinger (Moravia, N.Y./Moravia) in the bottom of the ninth. The win is the first for Keuka on the year as they improve to 1-5 overall. The game was also Keuka’s first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) game as they now stand at 1-0 in the NEAC. Berks falls to 8-12-1 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Berks jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the second while the Storm cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the bottom half of the fourth. The Nittany Lions took a commanding 5-1 lead with two runs in top of the fifth. With just six outs left to mount a rally, that’s exactly what the Storm did with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. Berks responded with a run in the top of the seventh to force extra innings.
Keuka had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t drive him in and loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but couldn’t plate a run. After again stopping Berks from scoring in the top of the ninth, Pittinger lead off the bottom half of the inning with a towering double. Sophomore Mike Marsh (Elmira, N.Y./Southside) bunted him over to third base bringing up the rookie catcher. Przepiora laced a single over the shortstop’s head to end the game.
Junior Kyle Sherin (Walworth, N.Y./Gananda) tossed six strong innings allowing four earned runs and striking out five. Sophomore David Janiszeski (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) pitched the final three frames to record the win while allowing just one run and punching out five.
Pittinger finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored while Marsh batted 2-for-2 with two SAC bunts. Janiszeski went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a double as junior Ted Black (Turin, N.Y./South Lewis) batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Senior Stefan Gallucci (Youngstown, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) belted a huge two-RBI double.
Keuka will next play at St. John Fisher College this Tuesday, March 31 beginning at 2 pm.
