Baseball 2/26/2012 9:02:00 PM Joy Zazzera, Sports Information Director

Knights Drop Two in Season Opener at Centenary

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Bridgewater, N.J.: Arcadia University Baseball began their 2012 season on the road this afternoon at T.D. Bank Park, battling against the host Centenary College Cyclones, dropping a hard-fought twin bill, 11-15 in the opener and 4-5 in the nightcap which was called due to darkness following the bottom of the fifth.

The Knights put forth a valiant effort in game one, fighting back from a 15-5 deficit after the fourth inning, using a six-spot fifth inning to climb back into the game. The Cyclones worked Arcadia for 11 walks and the Knights stranded 11 runners in the game and eventually settled for the 11-15 setback.

Arcadia was productive in their first inning of the season, putting three runs up on the board. The scoring came from an RBI single up the middle from sophomore Pat Kwiatkowski (Bensalem, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and a two-run single from senior Kyle Jackson (West Berlin, NJ/Paul VI). Junior Jerry Smith (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) grounded out to short and brought home senior Mike McElhatton (Haddon Heights, NJ/Camden Catholic) adding another run in the second before the Cylcones exploded for a 12-run inning in the bottom of the frame.

Those runs came off of just four hits from Centenary, as the Knights pitching staff tossed six walks their way in the inning. The Cylcones batted around their order, forcing Arcadia head coach Ken Spangenberg to his bullpen, retiring starting pitcher senior Steve Romond (Barrington, NJ/Paul IV) for sophomore David Jacobs (Havre de Grace, MD/Havre de Grace) before going to senior Adam Planamento Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) who finished out the inning.

Sophomore Justin Simpson (Centreville, VA/Westfield) scored an uneraned run in the top of the fourth only to have the hosts put up three more scores on a pair of doubles in the bottom half for a 15-5 lead.

The Knights began to battle back however in the fifth inning as they brought home six unanswered runs off four hits and one Cyclone error bringing the game to within four runs.

An RBI single to second from senior Mark Bowman (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) was follwed by an RBI single up the middle from Smith. Kwiatkowski took a pitch to the body on loaded bases bringing Bowman home for the Knight's third score of the frame. A single down the left field line by Jackson brought home Simpson before a ground out to short by junior Nick Petroski (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) added the Knight's final score of the inning and a 15-11 read on the scoreboard that would stand as the final.

Knights game one starter Romond, retired after 1.1 innings, allowed 6 runs on 1 hit with 5 walks. Romond was tagged with the loss for Arcadia. Jacobs came in for one-third of an inning and was shortly retired after Centenary hit for 6 unearned runs on 1 hit and 3 walks. Planamento tossed 2.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, walking 4 and striking out 1. First year Anthony Snover (Easton, PA/Notre Dame) struck out three Cyclone batters through 2.1 innings of work with 1 walk and no runs allowed.

Freshman Cesar Storm picked up his first collegiate win for the Cyclones after coming in for relief in only two thirds of an inning pitched, including one strikeout.

Bowman led the Knight's offense going 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI while Jackson earned 4 RBI on a 2 for 5 showing at the dish.

In the nightcap, Arcadia went up 4-3 before the hosts plated runs in the bottom of the second and fifth innings before the game was called to darkness.

Junior Tyler Guentter (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) got the nod as the game two starter for Arcadia but would be tagged with the loss. After working 4.0 innings, Guentter gave up 5 runs off 6 Cyclone hits and walked four but fanned 7, more than any of the game's 12 pitcher to see action on Sunday.

The Knights used a one-hit, one error first inning to score 2 runs but the hosts came right back with three of their own in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 lead.

Arcadia added a pair in the top of two, a two-run single from Smith scoring sophomore Jay Zehring (Manassas, VA/Stonewall Jackson) and Petroski.

With a 4-3 lead, Arcadia got into a jam to begin the bottom of two as Guentter pegged the Cyclones first batter, Randy Castillo, who stole second, advaned to third and came home on a SAC fly to right field.

The Knights would strand 5 runners in three, four and five with the game still locked at 4-4.

As the sun began to fade, the host got the game-winning tally in the bottom of the fifth, an RBI single to left field before senior Marc Gottfried (Havertown, PA/Haverford) was called to relieve Guentter. Gottfried struck out his first two batters before a Cyclone ground-out to second ended the inning and the game.

Mitch Renz took home his first collegiate victory for the Cyclones after 1.1 innings of relief while only allowing one hit and striking out two.

A 2 for 3 appearance at the dish from Kwaitkoski and a 1 for 3 showing from Smith who batted in 3 and scored 1 led Arcadia's game-two offense.

With the sweep, Centenary improves to 2-2 while the Knights open the season 0-2.

Arcadia plays their home opener this Tuesday, Feb. 28 against Eastern University. First-pitch at Erny Field is slated for 2:30 PM.

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