Mustangs use small ball to edge University

St. Vincent turned to fundamental baseball in the late going to edge University of San Francisco, 3-1, in the second round of the North Central Division 5 playoffs. The third-seeded Mustangs got the job done by executing some daring on the basepaths in a game that was tense throughout.

Both teams resorted to small-ball strategies, which made it a crowd-pleasing contest with old-fashioned diamond execution.

Pitchers Ethan Rapoport of St. Vincent and Jared Battat of University combined to limit scoring opportunities for both sides to a minimum as the 1-1 game moved into the later innings. Neither hurler would yield in the quickly paced contest.

St. Vincent opened the game with three consecutive hits, punctuated by a run-scoring single off the bat of third baseman Jack Romano. Romano’s hit plated Reno Nalducci, who had doubled.

University had some small-ball designs of its own as the Red Devils repeatedly turned to bunting and had seven stolen bases in an effort to put runs on the board. In the third inning, they capitalized on a first-and-third situation by executing a double steal.

Baserunner Nate Kral drew a throw at second base in a base-stealing attempt, which led to a play on the back end when Sam Fisher broke for the plate from third. The Mustangs were not fooled on the play as the return throw to catcher Nick Murphy appeared to be in time to nail Fisher at the plate. The safe call drew the ire of St. Vincent coach Gary Galloway, who asked the umpires to confer on the call.

After much discussion, the call stood, and the tightly played game was knotted at 1-1.

With time running out in the late innings, St. Vincent continued the trend of fundamental small ball. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mustangs loaded the bases with the aid of a bunt single by Matt Pierson and a base hit by Rapoport.

During the at bat by Murphy, it became obvious that coach Galloway had bunting in mind, but key pitches were fouled off. Finally, Murphy drew a base on balls from reliever Gunner Black, and the bags were loaded.

Galloway stayed with the bunt plan when second baseman Eric Riley came to the plate. Riley eventually dropped a good one down, and the Devils had a force play at the plate in front of them. A sweeping underhand toss to the catcher for an attempted force squirted away, allowing two runs to score, and the damage was done. All the action was around the plate area just as it had been for the University double steal.

Rapoport made the lead hold up by retiring the Devils in the top of the seventh inning after a walk brought the potential tying run to the plate. It was another stellar effort by the junior left-hander, who allowed only three hits on the afternoon. He went the distance and struck out six batters, including the final out of the game.

Kevin Lo, who went into the game with a batting average of .600 for University, was held hitless by Rapoport.

It was the 13th consecutive victory for the Mustangs, who finished with seven hits. Rapoport had two singles.

St. Vincent got an outstanding effort from junior shortstop Nalducci, who had three clutch assists in the final two innings with the game on the line.

Battat had two singles for the Red Devils, who finished at 14-10 for the season.

The Mustangs (20-5) were travel to Danville on Wednesday to face second-seed Athenian in the NCS semifinal at 5 p.m.

Results of that game were not available at press time.