WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The baseball team fell to 0-5 on the young season Saturday afternoon, as they lost a 9-6 decision to the College of Saint Rose in the opening tilt of their annual Spring Break trip to Florida.
Senior hurler
Matt Snyder continued his outstanding start to his final season as a Deacon, tossing six innings while striking out eight and surrendering a single earned run in a walk-free effort. But the Golden Knights were able to scratch out runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, taking a 5-1 advantage. Bloomfield was plagued by miscues on this afternoon - seven errors led to seven unearned runs over the course of their opening nine innings of Sunshine State baseball.
Coach Watson's club was able to fight back in the bottom of the seventh, putting up five runs to take a 6-5 advantage.
Manny Lopez got things started by finding his way on, and leadoff man
Anderson Minyetty punched a single through the right side to ignite the rally.
Ed Pagan followed and moved the runners into scoring position with a well-executed sacrifice bunt, setting the table for an RBI single by
Emilio Fernandez to cut the lead to 5-2.
Anthony Fratto came next, and stroked a single to leftcenter, scoring Minyetty and moving Fernandez to third.
After a pitching change,
Alberto Ruiz stepped to the plate and ripped a double down the leftfield line, scoring two and knotting the score at five runs apiece.
Edgardo Fernandez was the next man to the plate, and he sent a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Ruiz and putting the Deacons on top 6-5.
But a four-run eighth inning put the Golden Knights back on top for good, as the Deacons were unable to mount another comeback against the Knights' pitching staff. Bloomfield went quietly over the final two innings of play, dropping the opening game of their Florida campaign.
Fernandez, Ruiz and Fratto paced the Deacons offense in the loss, each going 2-4 and recording at least one RBI.
Alex Sepulveda finished with a hit and a stolen base for the Deacons.
The team returns to the diamond Sunday, March 7 with a doubleheader against Concordia College. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 AM.