Baseball earns Come-From-Behind victory in split with SJLI on Senior Day

Game 1: Farmingdale State – 9, St. Joseph’s-Long Island – 7
Game 2: St. Joseph’s-Long Island – 5, Farmingdale State – 2

FARMINGDALE, NY | The Farmingdale State baseball team hosted St. Joseph’s-Long Island in a Skyline Conference doubleheader on Friday and earned a split. The Rams earned a come-from-behind, 9-7 win in game one before falling 5-2 in the second game. FSC is now 12-6 in conference play, while the Golden Eagles are 16-2.

It was Senior Day at Farmingdale State and a special ceremony was held to honor five graduating seniors who played in their final home games of the regular season: Elian Pimentel (Huntington Station, NY), Daniel Molina (East Meadow, NY), Christian Esperon (West Islip, NY), Daniel Deutsch (Northport, NY) and Bobby Pollock (Manorville, NY).

Game 1

FSC (19-12) trailed the junior shortstop 3-0 Chris McGuggart (Bethpage, NY) hit a solo home run in the third to close at second. After a walk by sophomore right fielder Richie Heyder (Holbrook, NY), senior first baseman Jordan Lambert (Plainview, NY) recorded an RBI triple to close the gap to one. The Rams followed with RBI singles from seniors Tyler DiRocco (Commack, NY) and Pimentel as they took a 4-3 lead.

The Golden Eagles (27-11) quickly regained the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to go up, 6-4.

McGuggart again closed the deficit with another solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Farmingdale State trailed 6-5.

The score remained 6-5 until the sixth, when Deutsch produced a pinch-hit, tying home run. Molina followed with a walk and a stolen base before scoring on a double by Heyder, which gave FSC a 7-6 lead. After a double by Pollock, Lambert scored a two-run double as the Rams took a 9-6 lead.

In the seventh, St. Joseph’s-Long Island loaded the bases without an out. Senior Roman Dorosh (Holbrook, NY – Sv. 2) came into action for FSC and produced a pair of strikeouts, allowing only a sacrifice fly as Farmingdale State earned the 9-7 victory.

Esperon (W, 2-2, 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) picked up the win for the Rams after pitching 2.1 innings in relief.

McGuggart hit his first two home runs of the 2024 season, becoming just the sixth player in school history to record a multiple home run game. Lambert finished with a triple, double, three runs batted in and one run scored, while DiRocco had two hits, one RBI and one run. Heyder scored a single, a walk, two runs and one run batted in, while Pollock scored a double, a walk and one run. Deutsch added the tying home run in the victory.

Game 2

In the 9-inning game, St. Joseph’s pitcher Jack Kelly threw 8 innings of two-run ball to lead the Golden Eagles to victory.

SJLI jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and led 5-1 in the seventh.

The Rams’ two runs came on an RBI double by DiRocco in the fourth and a run-scoring double play in the seventh.

DiRocco finished with three hits and an RBI, while Lambert had two singles, a double and two runs scored.

FSC Sophomores Trevor Diamond (Miller Place, NY – 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) and Michael Camardi (Syossett, NY – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) didn’t get a decision, but threw 6.1 combined innings of relief without allowing an earned run.

The Rams are at it again tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, for a Skyline Conference doubleheader at Purchase College at 11 a.m.