OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (May 13, 2011) - Led by seniors Jerry Smith (Nesconset, N.Y.) and Effrey Valdez (Flushing, N.Y.), NYIT baseball produced a doubleheader sweep of Texas-Pan American Friday afternoon in Great West Conference play. The Bears defeated the Broncs 7-6 in game one and 13-0 in game two.

 

Smith batted .667 with three runs and two RBI. He also homered in game one. Valdez increased his career hits tally to 299 as he went 4-for-7 with two runs and five RBI. He homered for a team-leading 10th time in game two, a grand slam that gave NYIT its final 13-0.

 

GAME 1: NYIT 7, UTPA 6

The Bears pitching and defense held off the Broncs for five innings while NYIT tacked on six runs. NYIT scored its first two runs in the first inning as Smith homered down the left field line. The hit also plated Valdez. The Bears then added a run in the third and a run in the fourth from Ryan Campbell (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Robert Loftus (Massapequa, N.Y.). 

 

In the fifth inning, the Bears rallied for another two runs. Rob Cafiero (Bethpage, N.Y.) scored on a Sebastian Grazziani (Whitestone, N.Y.) double down the left field line. Grazziani then scored on a Loftus double. NYIT led 6-0 before UTPA ended the shutout with a solo home run in the sixth inning.

 

The Bears were able to score one more run, which made all the difference after the Broncs rallied for five runs in the final two innings. Grazziani scored what proved to be the game-winning run on an Ali Rodriguez (Yorktown, Va.) infield single. 

 

The win went to starter John Duggan (Belle Harbor, N.Y.), who tossed seven innings and surrendered just one run on four hits and struck out two. The save was awarded to sophomore Ryan Dillabough (Whitby, Ontario, Canada), his fifth of the season. The loss was dealt to Broncs starter Luis Flores (2-5). He gave up four of NYIT's runs.

 

GAME 2: NYIT 13, UTPA 0

The Bears quickly took control of the scoreboard once again with a solo runs in the second and third innings and a pair in the fourth inning. Smith scored the first run on a George Carroll (Bayside, N.Y.) single up the middle. In the third, Rodriguez doubled down the left field line and then score on a Valdez single to left field.

 

In the fourth, Cafiero hit a lead-off home run to left field. It was his third of the season. Carroll hit another RBI single this time plating Steve McNamara (Levittown, N.Y.). NYIT led 4-0.

 

NYIT nearly tilted the scoreboard fifth with nine runs. Michael Iglesias (Bronx, N.Y.) scored the first run on a Cafiero stand-up double. Grazziani then hit his first triple of the season to plate both Cafiero and McNamara. The inning wasn't quite over yet as Carroll singles up the middle to score Grazziani. NYIT led 7-0.

 

Loftus then walked and Iglesias got on for a second time on a Broncs fielding error. With the bases loaded, Valdez came to the plate and went yard for the 10th time this season. The Bears won the game 13-0.

 

The win was awarded to freshman Marcos Perez (Bronx, N.Y.). He improved to 3-4 on the season after tossing a complete seven-inning game shutout, scattering six hits and striking out three.

 

On Deck
NYIT concludes its 2011 home schedule on Saturday, May 14 with a Noon doubleheader against UT-Pan American. The Bears will celebrate their six graduate seniors with a ceremony prior to first pitch of game one.