SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-The boys of spring had the bats going in a Northeast-10 battle with the rival Merrimack Warriors, driving in three runs before making their first out and ultimately taking a 7-2 victory at AIC Park.

The win puts AIC at 7-17 and 2-12 in conference this season, while the setback drops the Warriors to 14-12 and 8-7 in conference play.

It was Merrimack that jumped out to an early lead, striking in the first frame with a walk, a double, and two singles to take a 2-0 lead before AIC could bat.

However, the Jackets turned around and hit Merrimack's starter even harder, as sophomore Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) singled through the left side, followed by a line-drive hit by senior catcher Dan Fenton (Agawam, Mass.), and then a triple to left by senior center fielder Dan Asselin (Chicopee, Mass.) that brought them both in. Junior designated hitter Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) then drilled a liner off of the third baseman to bring Asselin in and put AIC on top 3-2.

After that, the Jackets held the Warriors off the board, with starting freshman Michael Gentile (Windsor Locks, Conn.) going five innings and only allowing three hits after that first frame.

In the second, Fenton came to bat again and crushed a towering home run to right to put AIC up 4-2; the team extended the lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Ritch, and then again in the seventh with a two-run double to deep center field by sophomore third baseman Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) that gave AIC the 7-2 final.

AIC hits the road tomorrow and heads to Albany to take on the Saint Rose Golden Knights for a 3:30 p.m. Northeast-10 contest.