Bronx, NY - The University of Mount Saint Vincent kicked off the 2024 season on the road on Sunday, taking on John Jay College at Fordham University after their originally scheduled double header against Bard College was canceled on Saturday due to weather. The Dolphins looked like the offensive juggernaut from a season ago in game one when they rolled over the Bloodhounds by the score of 10-1. UMSV couldn't replicate their success in game two, as they dropped it 4-3.
The Dolphins wasted no time to start the year. After sophomore shortstop
Johnny Brucato singled and stole second, classmate
Will Granata blasted an RBI triple to the left-center gap for the first run of 2024.
Eric Zimmermann would then get hit by a pitch, setting the stage for junior backstop
Jason Albert, who doubled home both Granata and Zimmermann.
Joshua McCormick would also pick up an RBI in the first, giving the Dolphins a four run advantage before the Bloodhounds could come to the plate.
Senior
Sean Kennedy was tabbed as the Opening Day starter and lived up to the billing for new head coach John Torres. The East Meadow, New York native allowed just five baserunners (three hits, two walks) across four innings. Kennedy would also strike out four in the victory.
The Dolphins offense flexed in both the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a Granata two-run home run to left-center, a Brucato single, and an RBI double for Zimmermann. Granata would showcase his impressive two-way ability when he pitched in two innings of relief for Kennedy before transfer
Alex Alvarez shut the door on the Bloodhounds for the win. Granata finished the first game with three hits in four at-bats to go along with three RBI and three runs scored. Brucato would pick of two hits of his own while junior
Dom Porto reached base three times (two hits, one walk).
Sophomore
Michael Iocco got the call for game two and threw three innings for UMSV, where he allowed three runs on four hits. Lefty
Aidan Cardenas came in relief and struck out four across four hitless innings.
The Dolphins offense didn't find the same success in game two, despite going up by three runs after two innings. Transfer
Stephen Marinez went two-for-four in his UMSV debut while driving in a run on a first inning double. Porto, Brucato, Granata would pick up hits as well.
The Dolphins return to the field on Tuesday for a road game against St. Elizabeth University.