KINGS POINT, N.Y. (April 26, 2023) – A three-run first inning proved to be the difference as the USMMA baseball team recorded its sixth win in the past seven games with a 4-2 victory against Saint Elizabeth. USMMA improved to 19-11, while Saint Elizabeth fell to 13-19.

• Box Score

Freshman Ernest Darling (Highland, Ill.) extended his hitting streak to 24 games with a go-ahead, two-run single in the first and finished 2-for-3 to lead the Mariners. Sophomore Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while sophomore Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Junior Jay Piotrowski (Montgomery, Texas) earned the win (2-0) after allowing just two runs in 6.0 innings of work.
 
St. Elizabeth grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Mariners took advantage of two errors and answered immediately with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Clapsaddle had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to put USMMA on the board before Darling made it a 3-2 ballgame with a two-run single.
 
Piotrowski retired the leadoff man in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth frames to help keep the Eagles at bay. The Mariners, however, were also kept off the board and the game remained 3-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh when USMMA added an important insurance run. Senior Joey Zanetti (Richmond, Va.) led off the frame with a double, but reached third after an error in the outfield. Millen promptly followed with an RBI single to put the Mariners up by a 4-2 score.
 
Freshman Quin Fitzgerald (Jupiter, Fla.) tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, while classmate Caden Pierce (Marietta, Ga.) tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.
 
USMMA returns to action on April 29, hosting Mount Saint Vincent for a Skyline doubleheader at noon. Live stats and live video will be available on USMMASports.com with links on the USMMA Baseball Schedule Page.
 
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