Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Morey Hershgordon
The Quinnipiac baseball team was aware of the pressure heading into just its third conference weekend. A season-opening sweep by Marist and one win against Siena left John Delaney’s team 1-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. However, the Bobcats capped off a stellar weekend with a 3-2, come-from-behind, walk-off win Sunday to jump back into playoff contention.
“Big weekend for the program,” the second year head coach said. “First sweep of the year, three extremely tight games. To come off the walk-off like we did today was pretty huge.”
In a 2-2 tie, freshman Aron Fried roped a single to center to begin the home half of the ninth.
“I was just trying to get on base anyway I could,” the second baseman said. “At first, I was thinking I wanted to bunt, catch them sleeping a little bit. I saw (Ackley) yesterday and he walked me and I knew he was a little wild so I could see some pitches and I just got a pitch I could hit.”
Classmate Brian Moskey sacrificed him to second, and Matt Batten was intentionally walked which left the heart of the Bobcats order to do the damage. Rob Pescitelli hit a bleeder that fell perfectly into shallow right field.
With the bases loaded, senior Lou Iannotti smashed a ball through the right side to score the winning run.(Video courtesy Sierra Goodwill)
“It means a lot,” the catcher said. “We struggled a little bit starting off the conference weekends so it’s just big to get a sweep here.”
Sunday, and the weekend as a whole, was about teamwork and how each individual, on the field or not, played an integral role in the team’s success.
“Everyone worked extremely hard,” Iannotti, who leads the team in runs batted in, said. “Pitchers, position players, guys one through nine in the lineup. We won it as 32 guys, not one or two guys.”
Fried echoed the same message.
“Like Lou said, we’re 32 guys. Coach (Delaney’s) made it clear that all of us need to be ready to go at all times.”
Just before pandemonium ensued in Hamden, the Bobcats’ two-hole hitter made a season-saving play.
“I didn’t think he’d make it, but you never know with Matty Batts,” Delaney exclaimed. “Any ball that’s hit at shortstop, he seems to make every play.”
With two outs and runners on the corners in the top of the ninth, Iona pinch hitter Niko Switalla hit a ground ball in the hole between shortstop and third. Enter Matt Batten.
“I slid in the hole and went to go to second but (Fried) was shaded toward (first base),” Batten explained. “Luckily I had enough on it and (Ben Gibson) made a great stretch and we got the call.”
Delaney praised number six.
“That kid’s baseball instincts are far beyond many college players and I think in any situation like that if there’s one guy on the field that really wants the ball it’s him. There’s confidence, obviously, when any ball is hit in that direction that he’s going to make the play. He did it all day today.”
The Bobcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but found themselves tied at one after three and losing 2-1 after the fifth.
Their starting pitcher, Alex Vargas, threw just four and a third innings yielding four hits, five walks and hitting two Gaels. Despite the high pitch count (106), his work and the bullpen’s effort kept the series sweep attainable.
“We tip our cap to the way our pitchers threw,” the skipper said. “We gave up two runs today and yesterday was pretty limited in the amount of opportunities they had. Every single guy that we rolled out there threw well, and kept us in every single inning.”
Iannotti understands the importance of his staff.
“When they pitch like that we’re going to be extremely tough to beat with the lineup we have and the collective unit we put together.”
Quinnipiac entered the weekend in next to last place, but now sits just one spot out of the playoffs.
“Every weekend counts, every game counts,” Iannotti said. “It doesn’t seem like it now because it’s only the third conference series, but every win that we get ends up adding up at the end of the year.”
Quinnipiac (13-20, 4-5 MAAC) is the lone MAAC team perfect at home. It’ll continue to play in Hamden as the next three conference series are at home. The Bobcats welcome the Manhattan Jaspers (10-22, 3-6 MAAC) next.
Batten admits playing at home makes each win that much sweeter.
“It’s awesome. 29 of our first 30 games were on the road. We had busses going three to eight hours. You’re exhausted. So the fact that we get to be in our own bed, show up to our own locker room, our own field, it’s a very comforting feeling. There’s a sense of pride for us to win and dominate here. We love being here.”
