STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In a celebration of the program's five seniors while putting a spotlight on student-athlete mental health awareness, through Morgan's Message, the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. – Brooklyn baseball team took on Mount Saint Mary College on Friday afternoon from SIUH Community Park on Staten Island.

Dubbed Bears at the Ballpark, the day served as a tribute to the collegiate careers of Dominic Yumul (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands), Chris Perez (Bronx, N.Y.), Ryan Wnorowski (Maspeth, N.Y.), Doug Paider (Glendale, N.Y.), and Michael Gardener (Farmingdale, N.Y.). Through Morgan's Message, the program also aimed to foster open conversations around mental health, emphasizing that supporting one another off the field is just as vital as competing on it.

On the field, the Bears were dealt a pair of seven-inning defeats; being blanked 0-9 in game one before a comeback bid in game two fell short, falling 9-19.

How it Happened (Game 1)

The Bears held the Knights off the board in the first two innings before the visitors' offense erupted in the middle frames. Headlined by a three-run homer, the Knights used a four-run third inning to break a scoreless tie, then tacked on two more in the fourth and three in the fifth to pull away.

The Bears were limited to four hits in the opener, stranding five runners on base.

How it Happened (Game 2)

The Bears' offense came alive in game two, but it wasn't enough to overcome an early Mount Saint Mary surge. The Knights jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one inning and extended their advantage with three more runs in the second. 

Down 16-1 in the bottom of the sixth, St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) mounted a rally with six runs in the inning. Perez drove in a pair with a single down the left-field line, and two batters later, Gardener's base hit plated Andrew Ardito (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Gardener later came around to score on a two-out, two-RBI single by Justin Haluck (Plainedge, N.Y.). D. Paider capped the inning by scoring the Bears' sixth run of the frame, cutting the deficit to 16-7.

The Knights reclaimed a double-figure advantage thanks to three runs in the seventh, 19-7. Ardito and Perez scored in the bottom of the seventh, but their deficit proved too large to overcome, falling 19-9.

For the Bears (Game 1)

• Ardito went 2-for-3 with a double.

• Haluck and Vincent Camerada (Staten Island, N.Y.) also had hits in the game.

• Mike Dedella (Pemberton, N.J.) struck out six in the loss. Wnorowski registered a K on his Senior Day.

For the Bears (Game 2)

• Camerada finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

• Ardito scored twice and doubled, going 1-for-3.

• Perez, Gardener, and Haluck all had two RBI each and combined for a pair of runs.

• Paider and Christopher Stegmuller (Baldwin, N.Y.) also tallied an RBI.

• Ardito was dealt the loss on the mound, tossing two innings.

Up Next

The Bears play their penultimate Skyline series on Sunday, April 27 at Farmingdale State College. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 pm.