KINGS POINT, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) baseball team returned to action on Saturday afternoon, falling to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 5-11 and 5-16, on Saturday afternoon from Bartoszek Field.

Game 1

The Bears opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the third before extending their advantage to 5-0 in the fourth. Daniel Popovitch (Brick, N.J.) drove in a pair of runs on an infield single, scoring later in the frame on a Christopher Stegmuller (Baldwin, N.Y.) base-knock.

However, the Mariners answered with a seven-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run, claiming a comfortable lead they would not relinquish, holding on to the 11-5 result.

Popovitch led the Bears at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Stegmuller also recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. On the mound, Nicholas Mirabella (Whitestone, N.Y.) was charged with the loss, striking out three but allowing five earned runs over 3.2 innings of work.

Game 2

The Mariners scored two in the second, but the Bears responded by tying the contest in the top of the third. A balk allowed Popovitch to score before a sac fly from Justin Haluck (Plainedge, N.Y.) allowed the second run to cross the plate. Much like game one, the USMMA offense exploded in a single inning, as 10 runs scored in the home end of the third, effectively securing the result.

The Bears continued to battle late, adding three more runs over the final two innings. George Demacopoulos (Flushing, N.Y.) sparked a two-run sixth inning with a leadoff double and eventually scored on a fielder's choice by Jayden Loccisano (Massapequa, N.Y.). Popovitch delivered a sacrifice fly to score Ronan Garrett South Berwick, Maine). In the seventh, Camden Wallace (Riverhead, N.Y.) delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to left field, scoring Demacopoulos once more. The effort was not enough to extend the game further, as the Mariners' lead triggered the early conclusion.

Demacopoulos went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Wallace, Haluck, Loccisano, and Popovitch each finished with one RBI. Mike Dedella (Pemberton, N.J.) was charged with the loss (0-2) after allowing seven runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings of work.

The Bears conclude the weekend against Purchase College on Sunday, April 12 at 11 am.