PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 15, 2023) – Senior Ben Tobio recorded an RBI on two hits and scored two runs as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Babson College 3-2 in ten innings on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the Snowbird Baseball Classic.
The Ducks (9-5) won their third straight game in Florida, finishing the trip with a 3-2 record. Wednesday’s contest was also the first extra-inning game of the season for Stevens. The Ducks are now 2-1 in extra-inning games across the last three seasons.
Brant Savage recorded a hit and an RBI to lead the Beavers, who fell to 2-7. Michael Cook also recorded two hits in the game for Babson. Wednesday’s contest is believed to be the first meeting between the programs.
After Babson forced extra innings with a run-scoring groundout in the ninth, senior Chris Davis hit a leadoff single to give the Ducks momentum in a 2-2 tie. Junior Frank Tonina walked to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Still with no outs, sophomore Evan Pravato grounded into a fielder’s choice which resulted in Davis being out at third. Head coach Kristaps Aldins then had first-year Dylan Fishbough pinch run for Tonina at second. The swift Fishbough stole third and came around to score on Tobio’s RBI single to left. First-year pitcher Erik Sibbach (3-1) retired the Beavers in order of the bottom half of the tenth to secure the victory.
The Beavers forced extra innings after Savage connected for a leadoff tripled off junior Axel Johnson. The Babson third baseman scored one play later, when Ryan Noone grounded out to short. Sibbach struck out Justin Guest with the bases loaded the send the game into extra innings.
After the Ducks went down in order to start the game, Babson struck in the bottom of the first after a sacrifice fly from Savage to put the Beavers up 1-0.
Stevens did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Tobio delivered a leadoff double to end the drought. He would advance to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on sophomore Victor Schilleci‘s sacrifice fly to tie the game.
The Ducks only had two more baserunners until the ninth: Davis reached on a bunt in the fifth and senior Michael Reyes walked in the seventh.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Tobio was able to reach base on a throwing error. The error allowed him to move to second. Schilleci was hit by a pitch. With two outs, junior Christian Kreiser walked to load the bases. With the pressure on and the game still tied at one, junior Jack Irby stood in the box and took a walk, which scored Tobio to put Stevens up 2-1.
Sibbach fired 1 2-3 innings in relief and struck out two batters. Senior Mark DeCicco earned the start for the Ducks, lasting six innings and striking out six batters. He only allowed one run on two hits.
Tristen Spalter started the game for Babson and lasted eight innings. He struck out six while only allowing one run on two hits. Matt Milone (0-2) allowed one run on one hit in one inning of work.
Up Next: Baseball returns to Hoboken on Saturday, March 18, as they host King’s College (PA) for a doubleheader in MAC Freedom play. The Ducks are 6-0 all-time against the Monarchs. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.
Facebook: “Like” Stevens Athletic
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
#AllRise
