Stony Brook's Frankie Vanderka Throws No-Hitter At Fordham
NEW YORK (AP) — Frankie Vanderka pitched a couple of extra innings for his second career no-hitter.
The Stony Brook junior right-hander shut down Fordham 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday, striking out six and walking three over nine innings in a game that was scheduled for seven but went into extras with both teams scoreless.
Vanderka, from Levittown, N.Y., also threw a no-hitter at NJIT on March 18, 2011.
"I just went out there and did what I normally do," Vanderka said, "and stayed down in the zone and attacked the hitters."
He also got some help from his defense, including a diving catch by right fielder Tanner Nivins to rob Joseph Runco of a hit and end the fifth inning.
"I definitely owe him a dinner," Vanderka said of Nivins.
Fordham loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but Vanderka (1-2) struck out Runco to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.
"I tried to take it one pitch at a time," Vanderka said, "bear down, start throwing strikes and let my defense do its work behind me."
Stony Brook (3-10) opened the ninth with back-to-back triples by Johnny Caputo and Nivins before Steven Goldstein added an RBI groundout.
Vanderka set down Fordham (7-5) in order in the ninth to seal the victory for the Seawolves, who advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., last year for the first time in school history.
"Clearly this was Frankie Vanderka's day," coach Matt Senk said. "He was at the top of his game, mixing all three pitches, spotting his fastball and throwing plus changeups and curveballs. Just an outstanding performance by Frank to earn his second career no-hitter."
Fordham beat Stony Brook 3-0 in the second game of the doubleheader Sunday.
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