Box Score
Union, N.J. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Baseball team opened the 2012 season on Sunday with a 1-0 win on the road at #3 Kean. It marks the first ever victory for the Dolphins over the Cougars and the first win in program history over a nationally ranked opponent.
Brian Rush (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) worked 6.0 strong innings for the Mount and
Anthony Mongelli (Flushing, N.Y.) earned the win in relief.
A pitchers duel throughout, Sunday's game featured just seven total hits and only two extra base hits. The first scoring threat for either team came in the second when Kean had runners on first and second with one out. Rush responded by inducing a groundball double play to get the Dolphins out of the jam.
Mount Saint Vincent's first scoring chance came in the fourth inning after
Josh Sharpe (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) walked and advanced to third on two wild pitches. With the runner on third and no one out,
Mark Sargente (Commack, N.Y.) lifted a fly ball to center that turned into a double play after Sharpe was cut down at the plate.
After the fourth inning each team would manage just two hits apiece with the Mount eventually breaking through in the top half of the eighth inning.
Tyler Rieth (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) led off the frame with a walk before a
Gerald Amerosi (Staten Island, N.Y.) single moved pinch runner
Chris Sideli (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to third with no one out. Sideli would be pushed across with the deciding run on a double play ball up the middle.
Kean put two runners on base in the home half of the eighth inning after a hit by pitch and a two out walk, but Mongelli worked out of the jam with a pair of groundball outs to keep the lead intact. He went on to work a perfect ninth to earn the win for the Dolphins.
Rush, making his first career start, worked a career long 6.0 innings and allowed three hits and a walk. He fanned six Kean hitters, including the side in order in the bottom of the fifth.
Mongelli came out of the bullpen to work the final 3.0 innings and earn the win. He allowed a hit and two walks, while striking out two hitters.
Amerosi, Sharpe and
Vinny Todino (Eastchester, N.Y.) all finished with a single for the Dolphins, with Sideli crossing with the only run of the game. Sharpe also drew two of the team's five walks.
Steve Sanguiliano and Eddie Jennings each doubled for the Cougars, while Joe O'Connor and Nick Ramagli each drew a walk.
Mike Russo had a strong afternoon for the Cougars on the mound after working 8.0 innings and allowing just the one run. He allowed three hits and four walks, while fanning eight. Matt Manitone came on to work a scoreless ninth and struck out two hitters.
The win moves Mount Saint Vincent to 1-11 all-time against team's nationally ranked and pushes it to 1-0 overall in 2012. The Dolphins will be back on the field again on Tuesday evening when they play host to CCNY. First pitch at Lehman College is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
