The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia baseball team
rallied from a 14-3 deficit with an 11-run eighth inning before
losing in extra innings to Concordia College, 16-14 in the first
game of the Devils home opening doubleheader Saturday
afternoon.
In the opener, the Devils trailed by 11 runs entering the bottom
of the eighth inning when they scored 11 runs, all with two-out to
tie the game at 14-14. The Devils put runners on first and second
with nobody out to start the inning before Pete LaRocco (Gloucester
Catholic HS/Sewell, N.J.) grounded into a double play for the first
two outs. Mark Forbes (Salesianum HS/Hockessin, Del.) and Mark Perry (Toms River South/Toms River, N.J.) then blasted consecutive
doubles with Forbes two-bagger scoring Nick Szalejko (Archbishop
Carroll HS/Norristown, Pa.) and Perry's scoring Dennis Murphy (St.
Joseph's Prep HS (Pa.)/Mullica Hill, N.J.) who came in to run for
Forbes. A pair of walks loaded the bases before Jeff Murtha
(LaSalle College HS/Worcester, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to bring in
the third run of the inning. Dustin Gill (Delone Catholic/Hanover,
Pa.) followed with a two-run double and Szalejko a two-run single.
Another couple of walks and a wild pitch scored Szalejko. Murphy
then singled and Perry followed with his second double of the
inning to tie the game at 14-14.
The score remained tied until the tenth inning when Devils
pitcher Michael Croft (Franklin Towne Charter/Philadelphia, Pa.)
loaded the bases with one out. Greg Nealis (Episcopal
Academy/Drexel Hill, Pa.) relieved Croft. CC's Chris Motta then
lofted a long flyball to right which resulted in a two run
sacrifice fly. The Devils went down in order in the bottom of the
tenth as Concordia preserved the 16-14 win.
Perry added two singles to go along with his two eighth inning
doubles to record the first four-hit game of his college career.
Szalejko added three hits and a pair of RBI. Gill and Perry both
finished the game with three RBI. Croft took the loss.
David Perlleshi had five hits and four RBI to pace the Clippers
offensive attack. Peter Denyssenko earned the win in relief.
Sciences managed just seven hits in the nightcap with Perry and
Murtha recording two hits apiece. The Devils lone run came in the
seventh as Murphy scored when Kyle Davis (Garnet Valley HS/Garnet
Valley, Pa.) reached on an infield error. Mike Gartland (Gloucester
Catholic HS/Gloucester City, N.J.) took the loss for the Devils
Anthony Carnacchio had three hits and three RBI for the Clippers
in the second game including a home run to lead off the seventh
inning. Donnie Roth and Difre Reyes added three hits and one RBI
apiece. Matthew Gelormio got the win for Concordia.
The Devils will conclude their four game series with the
Clippers on Sunday with a pair of seven inning non-conference games
at Richie Ashburn Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
