Emmitsburg, Md. (May 13, 2007)--Stephan Fay
drove in a career high five runs to lead Mount St. Mary's (31-20,
17-7) to a 16-4 win over Quinnipiac in Northeast Conference action
at E.T. Straw Family Stadium on campus. The Mount clinched its
first Northeast Conference playoff spot since 1998 with the
victory. In addition, the Mount moves back into a tie for first
place with Quinnipiac in the NEC standings with the win.
Quinnipiac, which won the first three games of the four-game
series, jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Jeff
Mainetti doubled to plate Randy Gress with the first run. Pete
Kummerfeld and Michael Marmo added run-scoring singles in the
inning for the Bobcats (24-15-1, 17-7 NEC).
The Mount answered with five runs in the bottom half of the
second. Josh Vittek blasted a three-run homer to cap the five-run
outburst. It was Vittek's NEC-leading 11th home run of the
season. Matt Trusch and Mike Gioioso each singled to open the
frame. After a Matt Eiden sacrifice, Justus Yocum reached on a
throwing error by the Quinnipiac shortstop that allowed two runs to
score. Ivor Hodgson walked to put two runners on base for
Vittek.
The Mount broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Drew
Counselman walked to lead off the inning before Stephan Fay blasted
a two-run homer to give the Mount a 7-3 advantage. Hodgson chipped
in a two-run single and Vittek and RBI base hit in the inning as
well for the Mount.
The Mount added three runs in both the seventh and eighth
innings to take a commanding 16-3 lead. Fay walked with the bases
loaded and Gioioso added an RBI single in the seventh. In the
eighth, Fay added a two-run double and Trusch an RBI single for the
Mountaineers.
Fay was 2-for-5 with a home run and a career-high five RBI to
pace the Mount. Trusch went 4-for-6 with two RBI and Vittek
3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored.
Andrew Germuth (8-4) allowed three runs in five innings to pick
up the win. Dustin Pease tossed three innings of scoreless relief
while Costa Kapothanasis allowed an unearned run with two
strikeouts in pitching the ninth.
Gress scored a pair of runs to pace Quinnipiac, which had eight
hits from eight different players in the game. Joe duffy allowed
seven runs (six earned) in four-plus innings to take the loss.
Duffy walked six batters in the game.
The Mount hosts Fairleigh Dickinson for a four-game series next
week beginning with a nine-inning game on Thursday, May 17, at 3:00
p.m.
Game Notes...Ivor Hodgson scored three runs in
the game to break the Mount's single-season record for runs
scored...Hodgson had 48 runs scored on the year, breaking Will
Vanjonack's mark of 45 set in 1999...Eric Smith had a hit in the
game to tie the Mount's all-time hit record...Smith has 191 career
hits, tying him with Jason Weszka (2001-04) for the all-time hit
lead at the Mount...Vittek moves into the NEC lead with 11 home
runs, ahead of teammate Ryan Murray (10) and Quinnipiac's Jeff
Mainetti (10) and Randy Gress (10)...The Mount and Quinnipiac tied
atop the NEC standings with 17-7 marks...Monmouth (15-8), Central
Connecticut State (14-10) and Sacred Heart (12-11) round out the
top five...The top four teams make the NEC Tournament.
