WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Freshman Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) collected a pair of hits and two RBI's to lead the way as American International College picked up a pair of 2-1 victories to sweep Bloomfield College to close out their spring break trip this afternoon from Palm Beach Atlantic's Rubin Park.
The Jackets (3-6) got on the board first in game one as Starcun laced a two-out double to left field to score a run and then junior Aidan Farrell (Mansfield, Mass.) followed suit with a run-producing single for the 2-0 score.
The Bears (0-5) made things interesting in the final frame as they opened up with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt to put the tying runs in scoring position with only one out. Freshman catcher Christopher Cabral (Lodi, N.J.) then ripped a single up the middle to plate one, however, Jacket junior centerfielder Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) came up throwing and was able to gun down the tying run at the plate to keep the score 2-1.
Junior right-hander Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) then got the next batter to groundout to shortstop to secure the victory.
Sledzik improved to 2-0 on the season tossing the complete game allowing just the one run on four hits with four walks and one strikeout. Bloomfield senior Lucas Junger (Waretown, N.J.) earned the loss tossing all six innings scattering six hits while surrendering two earned runs with a pair of walks and five punch-outs.
AIC continued the momentum and scored first in game two as well after plating a single run in the third inning. Ritch, Geffert and sophomore Garrett Demers (Cranston, R.I.) all walked to load the bases to start the frame and Starcun singled home Ritch for the 1-0 edge.
The Yellow Jackets added to the score in the sixth as Ritch ripped an RBI single through the left side to score freshman Reed Phillips (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) who was hit by a pitch earlier in the frame for the 2-0 advantage.
Bloomfield came right back in the bottom half of the frame, however, as Cabral doubled to start the inning and came around to score on an RBI single by freshman Isaac Pichardo (Passaic, N.J.) for the 2-1 score.
Jacket sophomore closer Derek Azzopardi (Redwood City, Calif.) then came on to record the final five outs to record his second save of the season as he didn't allow a hit and fanned a pair.
Freshman Jason Coscio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) earned the decision tossing five and one third innings of work only allowing three hits with four strikeouts while surrendering the lone tally of the game.
AIC outhit the bears 6-4 in game one but only managed two hits in game two but escaped with a pair of victories to close out their southern swing.
AIC returns to action as they head north to battle Assumption at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday pending field conditions.
