Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game One:  Gordon 7, Centenary 6

Things started out slow for the Cyclones right from the gate as the Fighting Scots led off the game with a walk and single through the right side before Brian Harrington (Sr./Shoreham, N.Y.) sent an RBI double into right field to put Gordon on the board up, 1-0. After the initial run, Centenary starter Jimmy Kraivec (Sayerville, N.J.) was able to settle things down, striking out three of his next four batters to end the inning.

Looking to support Kraivec, the Cyclones offense came out strong in the bottom half of the frame as Ian Steepy (Elmwood Park, N.J.) sent a one-out single through the right side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After a quick out, Steepy moved to third on another Fighting Scot wild pitch and Ryan Caparoni (Kenvil, N.J.) worked his way to first with a walk. With two out and two on, designated hitter Dave Raifsnider (Pottstown, Pa.) sent an RBI single down the third base line to score Steepy and tie the game up at 1-1.

Unfortunately the Scots wouldn't stop fighting as they led off the top of the second with back-to-back singles and stolen bases from Dillon Coleman (Sr./Cromwell, Conn.) and Eric Walker (Fr./Danvers, Mass.) before taking the go ahead run on a two-out wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.

After stranding two men on in the bottom half of the frame, the Cyclones began to rally with two outs in the bottom of the third. Thanks to three straight walks by the Gordon pitching staff, the Cyclones worked the bases loaded before Sean Hunter (Berlin, N.J.) blasted a two-RBI single into center to put Centenary back on top 3-2.

With the support behind him, Kraivec came out strong in the top of the fourth, only allowing a base-hit bunt to bring the Cyclone offense back to the plate.

Following a Gordon pitching change, the Cyclones looked to extend out their lead as Steepy led the inning off with a two-strike double into right field before Joe Forcellini (Hatfield, Pa.) beat out an infield single to third to put men on the corners with nobody out. With momentum building, Ryan Caparoni (Kenvil, N.J.) sent an RBI single through the left side, scoring Steepy and sending Forcellini into scoring position.

After a Raifsnider walk to load the bases, the Fighting Scots took advantage of a groundball to third as they caught Forcellini at the plate on the fielder's choice, but would soon make a big mistake as they hit Mike Crowe (Stroudsburg, Pa.) with the bases loaded and a full count to send home a second Centenary run to put the Cyclones on top, 5-2.

After 92 pitches of work through five innings where he allowed only five hits and two runs while striking out six, the Cyclones turned to the bullpen to relieve Kraivec as they called on to the lone lefty on staff Zach Seres (Freehold, N.J.) to pitch the sixth. Despite allowing a pinch-hit RBI single to give the Fighting Scots another run, Seres was able to end the sixth inning with the Cyclones still ahead, 5-3.

Once again the Cyclone offense backed up their pitching in the bottom half of the frame as Crowe blasted a two-out homerun off the first pitch he saw, sending the ball deep over the right field fence to put Centenary on top, 6-3.

Looking to close the game out, the Cyclones sent in Cesar Storm (Union City, N.J.) in the top of the seventh inning to get the save. After a leadoff walk and hit batter, Harrington blasted a three-run homer scoring Alex German (So./Brimfield, Ill.) and Ben Davidson (Sr./Sterling, Mass.) to knot the game up 6-6 and force Centenary to head back to the pen for Chad Frankenfield (Bethlehem, Pa.).

Unfortunately the quick warm up wasn't enough for the sophomore reliever as Gordon took advantage of a misplayed bunt before scoring on a suicide squeeze from Stephen Crawford (Sr./Haddon Heights, N.J.) in the top of the seventh to give them the 7-6 lead and eventual victory.

Frankenfield (0-1) took the loss for the Cyclones while Nick Catallanotto (Fr./Kingston, N.H.) took the win for the Fighting Scots after three innings of work. Steepy led the Cyclone offense, finishing the game 3-4 with two runs and a walk while Crowe went 1-2 with his solo homerun and a walk.

Game Two: Centenary 5, Gordon 1

After the tough loss in game one, the Cyclones fired back behind a solid pitching performance by freshman Joe Frankosky who pitched a complete seven innings, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out five.
 
The Cyclones jumped out immediately as they took advantage of three consecutive walks to load the bases to open the bottom of the first inning. With nobody out, Victor Nunez (Santa Domingo, D.R.) was able to send a sac fly to right, plating Nick Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y.) for the first run of the game. Unfortunately, the Gordon pitcher was able to work his way out of the rest of the inning with the Cyclones leading, 1-0.

After a scoreless second for both teams, German blasted a triple with two strikes into left center before scoring on a sac fly to right from Harrington to knot the game up, 1-1.

It wouldn't be long until the Cyclones responded however as they came out attacking in the bottom half of the third, taking advantage of a Gordon error to lead off the inning before Kevin Litus (Freehold, N.J.) sent a single down the left field line with two strikes to put two men on. Thanks to another Gordon error to plate a Cyclone run, Nunez was able to rip an RBI single into right for the second run of the inning. The Cyclone offense wouldn't end there however as Crowe capped off the inning with an RBI single of his own to end the Centenary three-run third inning, putting the Cyclones ahead, 4-1.

After a scoreless fourth, the Cyclones were able to tack on another run in the bottom half of the fifth as Raifsnider and Nunez led off the inning with a single and ground-rule double respectively before Forcellini was able to send a sac fly to center to put Centenary on top, 5-1.

The Cyclones would eventually go on to hold their lead behind Frankosky (1-2), who picked up his first collegiate win after throwing only 89 pitches through seven innings of work. Jacob Syed (So./Niskayuna, N.Y.) took the loss for the Fighting Scots after four innings of work, allowing five runs on five hits while striking out one batter. Nunez led the Cyclones offense, finishing the game 2-2 with two RBI including his ground rule double in the fifth.

With the split, the Cyclones move to 4-6 and look to take the series victory tomorrow as they host the Fighting Scots for the rubber match of the three-game set with first pitch set for 5 p.m. at Diamond Nation.

Release courtesy of Centenary sports information.