JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Saint Peter's University baseball team dropped its second game of the series, 6-8, to Quinnipiac on a cold Saturday at Jaroschak Field. The Peacocks did show much improvement from game one, recording 12 more hits than they did the day before.
After answering back time and time again, the Peacocks (2-21, 0-8 MAAC) eventually ran out of steam late in today's game against the Bobcats (10-14, 4-4 MAAC). Saint Peter's totaled 14 hits and owned the sole home run of the day in the seventh inning.
Alex Manent was locked in from start to finish, recording three hits on five at bats, including one home run and two RBIs. He helped the Peacocks close the gap late in the game with his two-run homer.
Steve Polizzi,
RJ Azarieh and
Luke Schwartz each notched two hits while five other Peacocks recorded one hit.
Manent, Polizzi and Schwartz each now have two or more hits in two of the last three games. Saint Peter's finished the day with three doubles and two stolen bases.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Peacocks and Bobcats jumped out to a 1-1 tie after the first inning. Quinnipiac scored after Saint Peter's hit a batter on a pitch with the bases loaded, and SPU scored on a single by Polizzi that sent Manent across the plate.
Shortly after, the Peacocks took their first lead of the game when
Allen Ramos advanced home on a wild pitch. Saint Peter's saw another scoring opportunity with a runner on third, but a strikeout led to the third out of the inning.
In the top of the third, the Bobcats rattled off three runs to take a 4-2 lead over the Peacocks.
Logan Wenzel came into the game to start the fifth and started strong with no hits and just one walk in the inning.
The Peacocks found some life in the sixth inning when
Aidan Forrest singled up the middle with a man on first and second. One runner scored to bring Saint Peter's within two at 3-5. Schwartz also singled to score another runner as the Peacocks trailed by just one.
In the top of the seventh, Quinnipiac added two more runs to take a 7-4 advantage, but the Peacocks wasted no time responding. In the bottom half of the inning, Manent sent a homer deep to right field to cut Saint Peter's deficit to one again.
SPU was left with one more chance to take the lead in the bottom of the ninth as the team trailed 6-8. The Peacocks ultimately fell to the Bobcats after a flyout and two strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's and Quinnipiac play the third and final game of the series tomorrow, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Peacocks then travel to Monmouth on Tuesday, Mar. 31 for a game against the Hawks at 3 p.m.
