NEWARK, N.J. (May 8, 2009) – Junior outfielder Russ Grimes blasted a solo home run in the top half of the 10th inning to lift the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team over Rutgers University-Newark, 7-6 on Friday afternoon at Bear & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, N.J. The win moves the Ducks into the final of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Tournament on Saturday afternoon against Ramapo College. The game will be held at Dobbelaar Field on the Stevens campus beginning at 1 p.m.
Stevens battled back from a 4-0 deficit after three innings to knot the game at 6-all in the top of the seventh. The Ducks got on the board in the top of the fourth when sophomore third baseman Ken Meerendonk led the inning off with a single up the middle. Following a deep fly ball for the first out of the inning, Meerendonk took second on a passed ball by the catcher. Sophomore catcher Denis Ackermann advanced Meerendonk to third on a groundout to the right side of the infield. A double to left field by senior first baseman Dan Silva plated the Ducks’ first run of the ballgame.
The Ducks kept their momentum rolling as they tacked on three more runs in the fifth frame. With one out, junior shortstop Eddie Daniele singled to centerfield to spark the rally. Freshman Tom Phillips reached base on a fielding error as Daniele ended up on third. An RBI single off the bat of junior centerfielder Mark Rasulo drove in Daniele. After Meerendonk drew a walk to load the bases, Grimes lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate the tagging Phillips for the second run of the inning. Rasulo also tagged on the play as he reached third. With men on the corners, Stevens worked the double steal attempt as Meerendonk was called out at second, however Rasulo swiped home just in time to record the tying run (4-4).
It did not stay knotted up that long as the Scarlet Raiders posted a run to board in the bottom half of the fifth. Stevens came back in the sixth off an RBI single to centerfield by freshman T.J. Alcorn. Rutgers-Newark came right back to regain the lead (6-5) off an RBI single through the right side of the infield in the bottom of the sixth.
Scoring stayed alive for the fourth-straight inning as the Ducks were able to deadlock the contest at 6-all in the seventh frame. Phillips started the inning off with a walk, however was caught stealing for the first out. Rasulo singled to centerfield, and then advanced to second after Meerendonk grounded out to the pitcher. Grimes then reached on an error by the third baseman as Rasulo came around to score the tying run.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, Grimes launched his seventh homer of the season over the left field wall to break the stalemate as Stevens took its first lead of the game. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Hanas gave up his second hit in four innings on the hill during the bottom half of the tenth. However, he came through for the Ducks securing the victory and propelling Stevens into the ECAC Metro Championship.
Rasulo finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Ackermann, Silva and junior left fielder Anthony Andrews all delivered two hits for Stevens as Silva knocked in a run and Andrews crossed the plate once for the Ducks. Grimes led the walk with a pair of RBI on the night. His seventh homer tied Meerendonk as the pair now own the new Stevens’ single-season homerun record.
Junior lefty Joe Finora got the nod and went 5.2 innings pitch, gave up five earned on 10 hits. Hanas came in during the bottom of the sixth to go 4.1 innings, having allowed just two hits in 16 batters faced. In these last two come-from-behind victories, the Ducks have received stellar performances from its pitching staff. The bats have definitely come alive for Stevens as the Ducks have won 9 of their last 11 ballgames.
Stevens will return to action tomorrow for the ECAC Metro Division Championship scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the Dobbelaar Baseball field in Hoboken, N.J. against Ramapo College. Live stats will be provided for the final game.
