BOX SCORE
When and Where: May 17, 2019 – Hooksett, N.H. (Penmen Field)
Score: Felician University 6, Assumption College 5
Records: Felician 31-22, Assumption 26-20
Redshirt-sophomore Anthony Condito (Nutley, N.J.) collected two RBI and drove in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning, as sixth-seeded Felician University survived and advanced with a 6-5 victory against seventh-seeded Assumption College on Friday in a back-and-forth NCAA Baseball East II Regional elimination game at Penmen Field.
The Golden Falcons will now take on second-seed and host Southern New Hampshire later Friday (May 17) at 9:25 p.m. in another elimination game, while the Greyhounds see their season come to a close.
With the score tied, 5-5, the Golden Falcons reclaimed the lead in the ninth, with Condito's two-out single through the right side delivering the go-ahead run to make it 6-5.
Condito finished 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI.
Assumption put together a two-out rally in the first inning to push across the game's first run, as back-to-back doubles from junior R.J. Libby (Middleton, Mass.) and sophomore Dillon Koster (Woburn, Mass.) made it 1-0.
After Felician went ahead with two runs in the third, including one of the unearned variety, the Greyhounds pulled even in the home half when Koster delivered a two-out RBI single to center.
The back-and-forth continued when sophomore Sean Downey (Elizabeth, N.J.) led off the fourth inning with a mammoth shot to left that put Felician back up, 3-2.
Assumption tied it again in the bottom of the fourth when junior Matt Lonardo (Cranston, R.I.) hit a solo home run to make it 3-3.
Felician continued the see-saw battle in the sixth, with graduate student Ronnie Sessa (Chester, N.J.) clobbering a two-run homer over the bullpen in right that sent the Golden Falcons back in front, 5-3.
The Greyhounds sliced their deficit in half in the seventh with yet another long-ball, as senior Hunter Tralli (Kensington, Conn.) sent one over the fence in left-center.
Assumption tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, with Koster drawing a leadoff walk, and Dillon Zona pinch running for him, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and scoring when senior Trevor McQuade (Westwood, Mass.) singled to center and the center fielder mishandled the ball.
Redshirt-senior L.T. Struble (Hammonton, N.J.) finished 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored for the Falcons. Sessa (two RBI, run) and Downey (walk, RBI, two runs) were both 1-for-4.
Sophomore Nick Nardulli (Staten Island, N.Y.) earned the win in relief to improve to 3-2, tossing an inning-and-two-thirds of shutout baseball, allowing two hits and striking out one. Redshirt-junior Alex Schwartz (Vorhees, N.J.) started for the Golden Falcons and gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings, while striking out five and walking two.
Koster (walk, two RBI) and Lonardo (walk, RBI, run) were each 2-for-3 for Assumption. Junior Jared Brescia (Brentwood, N.H.) finished 2-for-4.
Sophomore James McNamara (Westford, Mass.) fell to 1-4 with the loss, relinquishing one run on one hit and three walks, striking out two, in three innings of relief. Sophomore Brendan Desautels (Worcester, Mass.) started and gave up three runs – two earned – on five hits, striking out five and walking three, in four innings of work.
For the latest information on the NCAA Baseball East II Regional, visit the Championship Central page.
