QU Baseball Splits Season Opening Doubleheader at Appalachian State

Saturday, February 27

Hickory, NC

12 PM

Quinnipiac University

1-0

Appalachian State

0-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Quinnipiac	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	4	8	0
Appalachian State	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	3	9	2

QU Baseball Splits Season Opening Doubleheader at Appalachian State

2/27/2016 11:13:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: QU Sports Information

HICKORY, North Carolina – The Quinnipiac baseball opened up the 2016 season Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader split against the Appalachian State Mountaineers, winning game one, 4-3, before falling in the second game, 10-7.

Joseph Burns (Shelton, Connecticut) went 3 for 6 with a double, two walks and two RBI in the doubleheader, including a 2 for 4 day at the plate in game one.
In game one of the doubleheader, Matthew Batten (Shelton, Connecticut) went 1 for 4 with a double and two runs while catcher Lou Iannotti (North Haven, Connecticut) picked up a pair of hits in the doubleheader, including going 1 for 2 with a RBI, walk and hit by pitch.

Thomas Jankins (West Brookfield, Massachusetts) tossed six innings in his first win of the season, striking out five batters while allowing three runs with eight hits. Matthew Osieja (Wyckoff, New Jersey) picked up his first save of the season with 2/3 of an inning, striking out both batters he faced.

In game two, Robert Pescitelli (West Islip, New York) went 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs, and stealing three bases. In total, the Bobcats swiped eight bases in the second game.

Game One:

The Bobcats jumped out a 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Iannotti was hit by a pitch but was soon forced out at second on a Batten fielder's choice. After a Pescitelli walk put runners on first and second, Burns singled to right field to put runners on the corners and score Batten. Pescitelli advanced home as Burns got caught in a pickle between first and second base, before Burns was tagged out, for the second run of the game.

Appalachian State got both runs back in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game, 2-2. Tyler Stroup walked to lead off the inning before moving up to second on a Matt Vernon single. Grayson Atwood ripped a single to right field to score Stroup from second and advance Vernon to third base. With runners on the corners, Chandler Seagle, lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and score Vernon to tie the game.

In the next half inning, Quinnipiac regained a one run lead. Batten doubled to right field to get himself into scoring position, then moved up to third base on a two-out, infield single by Burns. Mountaineers' starting pitcher Bobby Hampton attempted to pick off Burns at first base but threw the ball away, allowing Batten to score from third.

The Mountaineers tied up the game in the next half inning to make it 3-3 with four innings to play. Beau Myers led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stroup roped a two-out double to right center field that scored Myers easily and even up the game.

Neither team could break the tie until the Bobcats scored the game-winning run in the top of the sixth inning. Palladino singled to right field with two outs and swiftly stole second base. Iannotti stepped up to the plate and singled to right, scoring Palladino from second with the game-winning RBI single.

Game Two:

The Bobcats got right back into the swing of things in game two of the doubleheader, jumping out to a 5-0 lead through the first three innings of the game.

Iannotti singled to left with one out in the first inning before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After back-to-back walks by Batten and Pescitelli, Burns lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Iannotti. With runners on the corners, the Bobcats perfectly executed a double steal that allowed Batten to score and put the Bobcats up 2-0.

In the top of the third inning, the Bobcats scored three more runs to take their 5-0 lead. Pescitelli got the rally started with a one-out single to left center. Burns followed up with a single through left side before Ryan Nelson (Knoxville, Tennessee) flew out to centerfield. After another Pescitelli stolen base, Ben Gibson (Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts) walked to load up the bases. Freshman Brian Moskey (Higganum, Connecticut) walked to score Pescitelli follow by a John Bodenhamer (Maple Valley, Washington) walk to score Burns for a 5-0 lead.

Appalachian State scored nine runs from the fourth to sixth innings turn a 5-0 deficit into a 9-5 lead before Quinnipiac got two runs back in the seventh and eighth innings. Burns worked a one out walk and moved up to second on a Nelson single. Gibson singled through the left side of the infield to score Burns and advance Nelson to second base. After Moskey walked to load the bases, the Bobcats left the bases loaded.

Quinnipiac got within two runs in the top of the eighth inning with another two-out run. Pescitelli walked and stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Burns reached first on a fielding error by shortstop Will Herman that scored Pescitelli to make it 9-7.

The Quinnipiac baseball team returns to action Sunday afternoon with another doubleheader against the Appalachian State beginning at 11 AM, with the games played on their campus at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.