PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (May 12, 2023) – The fifth-seeded USMMA baseball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but ultimately saw its season come to an end as sixth-seeded Purchase rallied to defeat the Mariners, 9-7, in a Skyline Championship elimination game. USMMA finishes the season 25-16, while Purchase improves to 22-20.

• Box Score 

Freshman Ernest Darling (Highland, Ill.) went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run to help pace USMMA, while sophomore Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) and junior Tyler Reistetter (Dickinson, Texas) each finished 1-for-5 with a solo home run.
 
USMMA jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of two home runs. Millen set the tone for the inning, leading off the game with a solo blast. The next two batters were retired, but senior Jared Chambers (Houston, Texas) extended the inning with a single and sophomore Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) followed with a walk. Darling then launched a three-run blast to left.
 
Purchase, however, had an immediate answer and managed to tie the game with a four-run first of its own before taking a 7-4 lead with a three-run third.
 
USMMA took advantage of the long ball once again in the fifth as Reistetter blasted a two-out solo home run to trim the deficit to 7-5.
 
The Panthers had an answer once again as an RBI triple made it an 8-5 ballgame through five.
 
The Mariners capitalized on an error to plate another run in the seventh. After reaching on a one-out error, Millen advanced on a wild pitch before a single by sophomore Danny Heck (Massillon, Ohio) set up runners on the corners. Millen later scored on a wild pitch as USMMA pulled to within 8-6.
 
Purchase had a response once again in the bottom of the frame, plating a run on an RBI double to go up by a 9-6 margin.
 
USMMA chipped into the deficit with another run in the eighth. Clapsaddle led things off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout before junior Brice Garner (Fort Collins, Colo.) made it 9-7 with a two-out RBI double.
 
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