Clippers split with Golden Falcons

Box score Game 1

Box score Game 2

The Clippers Baseball team headed to Lyndhurst, NJ to face off against the Golden Falcons of Felician College.  The Clippers struggled at the plate as they faced the Golden Falcons for the first time this season.  Being struck out six times and only getting one man on base through the first three innings the Clippers were looking to turn it around. 

Peter Denyssenko was called to pitch the first game for the Clippers.  The Golden Falcons scored off an error in the bottom of the second as Denyssenko was in control apart for that moment. 

The Clippers sawa turn around on the bats as David Perlleshi hit a double down the left field line to start the top of the fourth inning off.  Unfortunately Perlleshi could not touch home plate and the Clippers were still scoreless. 

Denyssenko continued to pitch well through the next couple of innings as the Clippers did not allow anyone past third base. 

With Denyssenko pitching well the Clippers needed some base runners and got them in the top of the seventh.  Billy O'Connell reached first base after he was walked aboard.  Difre Reyes hit a sacrifice bunt and reached first on an error by the Golden Falcons.  Greg Conway laid down a sacrifice bunt for O'Connell and Reyes to move up and both be in scoring position.  Mike Sciacchitano hit into a ground ball to score O'Connell and move Reyes just 90 feet away from home plate.  With a single down the right field line by Tommy Paradise, Reyes scored easily and the Clippers took the lead after seven with a score of 2-1. 

The Golden Falcons tied the game in the bottom of the ninth and pushed the game into extra innings.  Mike Sciacchitano led the top of the tenth inning off reaching first base on another Golden Falcon error.  Tommy Paradise then moved Sciacchitano over with a sacrifice bunt and the Clippers once again had someone in scoring position.  With two men on after Anthony Carnacchio was walked, David Perlleshi hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field and Sciacchitano scored to give the Clippers the 3-2 lead. 

Keith Malanga came in to pitch the tenth inning for the Clippers and letting only one man get on base saved the Clippers the game and the Clippers added another notch in the win column.

The Clippers started the second game off with a bang as Anthony Carnacchio led with a double to left field.  Carnacchio moved to third on a wild pitch and put himself 90 feet away from scoring.  Donnie Roth stepped up and with one out hit a single to second base to score Carnachhio.  Two stolen bases later Roth was standing on third.  TJ Walsh was walked aboard and the Clippers had runners on the corner.  As Billy O'Connell hit into a fielder's choice, Roth came running home and with an error on the Golden Falcons catcher, O'Connell was safe at first and Roth was safe at home scoring the second run for the Clippers.  A sacrifice fly to center field by Difre Reyes scored Walsh and the Clippers were up 3-0 after one half of an inning. 

Freshman Eric Skutch was given the ball for the second game.  After a walk, a stolen base and an unfortunate throwing error the Golden Falcons hit a single and scored one run.  After a scoreless top of the second for the Clippers the Golden Falcons were able to score two more runs and tied the game up at 3-3. 

With a scoreless third inning the Clippers needed to start hitting again.  Greg Conway led the fourth inning off for the Clippers and saw his pitch and knocked down and over the left field line for a home run.  The Clippers now back on top 4-3 needed to stop the Golden Falcons. 

The Golden Falcons were not done as they answered the Clippers one run with two of their own and took their first lead of the game.  Eric Skutch continued to work well from the mound and was able to shut the Golden Falcons down for the rest of the game.  Unfortunately the Clippers continued to struggle at the plate and could not get anyone to score.  The Clippers fell to the Golden Falcons in the second game 4-5. 

First game pitcher Peter Denyssenko picked up this fourth win of the season as he went 9 full innings with 7 strike outs.  Eric Skutch, game two pitcher for the Clippers, went a complete 8 innings with 9 strike outs.

Anthony Carnacchio hit 2 for 7 with 1 run scored for the day as David Perlleshi went 2 for 8 with 1 RBI.  Donnie Roth hit 1 for 7 with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 2 stolen bases.  Billy O'Connell had 23 putouts fro both games at the first base spot while Greg Conway had 20 putouts from behind the plate. 

The Clippers will host Felician College Sunday, March 28th in a non-conference single game.