GREELEY, Colorado - The New York Institute of Technology racked up 13 runs on 18 hits as the Bears dominated Utah Valley State 13-2 in the opening game of the Division-I Independent Invitational in Greeley, Colorado on Friday. NYIT began its defense of the Invitational Championship by scoring in seven of the nine innings, including four each in the fourth and fifth to cruise to the victory.
NYIT starter Michael Striker was one pitch from a complete-game shutout when Scott Croshaw doubled to left and on the next pitch Kory Drew hit his seventh home run of the year for the final 13-2 count. Striker lasted 8 2/3 innings, allowing the two earned runs on 10 hits.
The Wolverines had their chances early, but couldn't come up with the big hits when they needed to. With the score 2-0 in the third, Kory Drew and Nick Connor hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, but were stranded in scoring position. After that, the Bears had the two four-run innings, including a grand slam in the fourth, to take a 10-0 lead. The lead eventually reached 13-0 before the two-run blast by Drew.
New York had no trouble coming up with hits when they needed to as they went 12-for-21 with runners in scoring position and 9-for-17 with two outs, while the Wolverines were just 4-for-19 and 3-for-11 in the same categories.
Drew bounced out of his slump to go 3-for-4 on the day. Connor also had three hits for Utah Valley State, who dropped to 17-37 on the year.
NYIT improved to 24-20 on the year and every Bear hitter had at least one hit. Kraig Binick, Bryan Pastor, David Johnson and Mike LaLuna each had three hits for New York. LaLuna was the star of the day as he went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five runs batted in. LaLuna's fifth inning grand slam was the freshman's first collegiate home run.
Senior pitcher Brady Drake, starting the final game of his collegiate career, lasted four innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
Tomorrow Utah Valley State will take on host Northern Colorado at 2:30pm in a game that can be heard live on wolverinesports.net.
