CRESSON, Pa. – After dropping the opening game 13-3, the Hilbert College baseball team fought back in the night cap but came up short in the 7-6 loss to Mount Aloysius College.
In the 1pm contest, the Mounties built a 3-0 lead through the first three innings before Hilbert found their groove.
The Hawks tied the game thanks to back-to-back doubles hit by
Kevin Moore and
Sal Carroccia (RBI).
Bradley Perrin and
Eric Flores then took a base on balls for a full house. After a pitcher change, Hilbert scored two more runs off bases-loaded walks.
But at the bottom of that same inning, Mount Aloysius added six runs and continued to tack-on two more in both the fifth and sixth innings for the 13 -3 win.
Alexander Rivera, Moore and Carroccia earned the three Hilbert hits.
Justin Hulbert (0-3) struck one out, gave up nine earned runs off 13 hits and a pair of walks through four innings.
Winfred Nelson finished the game with four earned runs and a pair of walks.
Hilbert rallied hard in the night cap but came up short crossing home plate in the top of the 9th.
Rivera's ground out pushed Flores home for the Hawks first run in the top of the 5th.
Ryan Bonafede poked his first homer of the season knocking in
Anthony Wurstner who got on base with a double at the start the 6th cutting the score to 4-3.
The Mounties gathered three runs on the bottom half to stretch their lead 7-3.
Bonafede doubled in the top of 7th but was stranded prior to two quick innings as both pitchers faced three batters.
The Hawks found new life in the top of the 9th.
Mark Anderson entered as a pinch hitter and singled to get on base.
Taylor Haug then entered as a pinch runner. Tristen Aldinger walked and he and Haug moved up a base with a
Paul Wujek ground-out. Bonafede loaded the bases with a walk before Moore hit a single 2RBI dinger.
Tyler Shaw reached off an error which gave Bonafede time to make the plate.
Sal Carroccia pitched a complete game with a pair of strike outs and six earned runs off seven hits through eight innings.
The Hawks have their first home game of the season when they host Penn State Behrend April 19 on the diamond on campus. They will then head to McCarthy Park in Buffalo to battle Medaille College April 21.
