Baseball Tops St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-2
Box Score
SPARKILL, N.Y. (March 21, 2010) - A pair of freshman helped propel the C.W. Post baseball team to a 5-2 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday afternoon in East Coast Conference baseball action, and Zack Graczyk (Carmel, N.Y.) continued his torrid hitting and Kevin Chenicek (Levittown, N.Y.) earned his first collegiate win with a complete-game effort.
The Pioneers even their record at 6-6-1 overall and 4-1 in conference action, while St. Thomas Aquinas slips to 4-14, 1-4 in ECC play.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, as third baseman Nick Compito (Syosset, N.Y.) led off with a double. Following a groundout that moved Compito to third, Joe Armenti (Dix Hills, N.Y.) worked a walk and Brian Anderson (Nesconset, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Dean (Southbury, N.Y.) came through with an RBI single to score Compito, and Casey McKay (North Massapequa, N.Y.) followed with another single that scored Armenti.
The Pioneers tacked on another run in the sixth as Bryan Bonin (Commack, N.Y.) scored on an error by the STAC left fielder.
The Pioneers scored two more runs, one in the top of the seventh as Graczyk scored on a passed ball, and one in the top of the ninth, as Graczyk scored again, this time on a single by senior right fielder Mike Callaghan (East Meadow, N.Y.).
The Spartans spoiled Chenicek's shutout bid in the ninth with two runs on an RBI single by Dan McDermott and a Pioneer error, but Chenicek got Frank Salerno to pop up to shortstop to end the threat and seal the victory.
Chenicek's final line for the afternoon was nine innings pitched, scattering nine hits and giving up two runs (one unearned), striking out seven. He did not issue a walk.
Kevin Ryan took the loss for the Spartans with five innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks.
Offensively, the Pioneers were led by Graczyk's 2-for-4 effort with two runs scored and Compito's 2-for-4 day.
The Pioneers are off tomorrow then resume action on Tuesday as they travel to Oakdale, N.Y. to take on Dowling College in a 3 p.m. start.