Alliance University

Jersey City, NJ -- The Alliance University baseball program opened its 2023 season with a trip to Virginia to square off with the Virginia State University in a non-conference series. 

VSU took both games on day one with scores 9-3 and 10-2. In game one AU went up by two in the top of the first before VSU scored nine unanswered runs over the next five innings. Alliance scored a third run in the top of the fifth when Rocco Nappi scored on a wild pitch. 

In game two, VSU scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added another seven in bottom of the 7th to up by 10. Alliance got two runs of their own on the board. Fausto Leonardo scored off a Darnell Guerrero double to left field before Janiel Ortega scored when Kareem Hicks grounded out to the short stop. 

On Sunday, Alliance snapped a three-year losing streak recording its first win of the 2023 season with a 5-3 win in extra innings. VSU scored late in the bottom of the 8th to go up by one, before Alliance hit right back with a pair of runs in the top of the 9th. But AU was unable to keep VSU off the board who tied the game up at two. AU went all out and scored three runs in the top of the 10th. AU loaded the bases and Nick Perez was hit by a pitch which allowed Bartolo Rodriguez to score. Joe Kearney grounded out to second base and Alex Camilo scored AU's 4th run. Fausto Leonardo rounded up the scoring when he scored off a wild pitch. VSU was unable to answer back which allowed AU to take it's first win of the season.

Nicholas Korovich showed a stellar performance on the mound with 8 pitched innings, 10 strikeouts, and an ERA of 1.13.

Alliance will be back in action this upcoming weekend when they host American International University in double-headers on Saturday and Sunday.