North Andover, Mass. – The American International College baseball team rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-7 lead, but lost it in the bottom half as senior designated hitter Mike Andre singled to score junior first baseman Matt Hogan to give Merrimack the win. The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 8-31 overall and 6-21 in the NE-10, while the Warriors improved to 18-26 overall and 9-18 in conference play.

Freshman #Julian Concepcion# (Woodstock Valley, Conn.) hit a two-run pinch-hit double to cut the Warriors' lead to 7-6 with two outs in the top of the ninth. Classmate #Kenny Rollins# (Ayer, Mass.) pinch-ran for Concepcion and scored the tying run on an error Merrimack second baseman Mike Coppinger. Sophomore designated hitter #Dillon Fontaine# (Amenia, N.Y.) plated the go-ahead run with a double left center to score senior right fielder #Jon Thorpe# (East Longmeadow, Mass.).

Sophomore #Zach Bunszell# (Medford, Mass.) pitched eight innings in the start for AIC and allowed seven runs, six earned, without earning a decision. Freshman #John Hanna# (Dudley, Mass.) took the loss as he gave up two runs in 0.2 innings. Junior Ryan McNeil (Lynnfield, Mass.) went the distance to earn the victory for Merrimack as he had eight Ks and gave up eight runs, four earned, in nine innings.

Hogan provided most of the Warriors' fire power as he went 3-5 with three runs scored and three driven in. Senior center fielder Jeff Bercume (Leicester, Mass.) went 3-5 at the dish with two runs scored.

Sophomore catcher #Anthony Arrichiello# (Yonkers, N.Y.) was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI double for the Yellow Jackets. Junior left fielder #Dan Bassani# (Naples, Fla.) went 2-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored.

The Yellow Jackets return to action tomorrow as they host Bentley for a NE-10 doubleheader at 12 p.m.