NCAA II EAST REGIONAL: #3 Adelphi Races Past #4 Dowling, 8-1
Panthers ride complete-game victory from Crouch in rain-delayed opener
RINDGE, N.H. (May 15, 2009) - Third-seeded Adelphi University opened a seven run lead after two innings and never looked back in posting an 8-1 victory over fourth-seeded Dowling College in game three of the 2009 NCAA Division II Baseball East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University, at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field this morning. The game was postponed from last night due to rain.
Adelphi (32-15) will be back on the field later today when it faces fifth-seeded Assumption College (33-19-1) at 7 p.m. Assumption posted a 4-3 victory over second-seeded and host Franklin Pierce (37-17) yesterday. Dowling (30-16) looks to stave off elimination this afternoon when it battles sixth-seeded Wilmington College (28-27) this afternoon at 4 p.m. Wilmington upset top-seeded Dominican College (37-13) 10-1 in yesterday's regional opener.
Sophomore righthander Keith Couch (Elmont, N.Y./Holy Trinity) picked up the complete game victory (9-1) on the mound for Adelphi, allowing just the one earned run on seven hits with ten strikeouts and no walks.
Senior catcher Ryan Boelsen (Garden City, N.Y./Nassau CC) helped pace the Panthers offense, hitting 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Classmate Thomas Harper (Nesconset, N.Y./Suffolk CC) was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and runs scored. Senior Mike Colonna (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic) finished 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
Junior Frank Intagliata (Franklin Square, N.Y./Frank Carey) led Dowling, batting 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Senior David Wendt (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) hit 2-for-4.
Sophomore Gabriel Duran (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy), the East Region Pitcher of the Year for the Golden Lions, was pinned with the loss (9-2) as he surrendered seven runs, six earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks over an inning and a third. Junior Buddy Cipoletti (West Islip, N.Y./Wagner) yielded an earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and four walks in 6.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Adelphi jumped on the scoreboard with a single run in the first. Harper singled to left center and scored on a two-out double to the gap in left by senior Bill Melillo (Glenwood Landing, N.Y./North Shore). The Panthers broke the game open with six in the second to chase Duran. Boelsen had the big hit with a two-run single through the right side with one out. Freshman Craig Matteo (Herricks, N.Y./St. Mary's) added an RBI single and Harper drew a bases-loaded walk in the frame as well.
Dowling managed just two hits, one a bunt single in the third, before getting on the scoreboard in the sixth. Intagliata led off with a triple down the rightfield line, scoring on an error on the relay throw. Adelphi closed out the scoring in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to center by Harper.