FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Senior David Kerlejza (Unionville, Conn.) went 4-for-4 with a two-run blast and a pair of runs scored in game-two, but American International College dropped that decision to split with Stonehill, 4-2 and 12-9, in non-conference action this afternoon from the NSU Baseball Complex on the campus of Nova Southeastern University.
In game one, AIC (1-3) got on the board early in the first as senior Dave Clark (W. Springfield, Mass.) laced a double down the right field line and came around to score as junior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) followed suit with a double of his own to left center for the 1-0 advantage.
In the second the Jackets played some small ball as after a single to center by junior Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) put runners at first-and-second with no outs freshman Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners one base. Junior Brett Bohl (Ludlow, Mass.), who opened the inning with a walk, then crossed home off a wild pitch for the 2-0 edge.
Stonehill (8-2) responded in the top half of the fourth inning as senior Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Mass.) blasted a two-run homerun high over the left field fence to tie the game at 2 apiece.
American International then grabbed the one-run edge back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Lucas Vallas () led off with a single to right and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher during the next at bat. He was then pinch run for by sophomore Michael Barthlette (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) who came around to score on an RBI single to left by freshman Alex LaFayette (Ludlow, Mass.) for the 3-2 score.
The Jackets then added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth which proved to be a big run as Stonehill loaded the bases with two outs in the final frame chasing junior Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) from the game.
Junior Derek Azzopardi (Redwood City, Calif.) came in and promptly ended the threat throwing one pitch and causing a groundout to third as Bohl stepped on the bag for the force to end the game.
Sledzik picked up the decision after tossing 6.2 innings scattering six hits with three walks and four strikeouts while Azzopardi picked up his first save of the season.
Skyhawk senior Neal Horan (Mashpee, Mass.) was dealt the loss after tossing five innings allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with three free passes and five punch outs to drop to 0-1 on the year.
Stonehill edged AIC in hits for game one 6-5.
In game two both squads managed a single run in the opening frame as AIC scored on a wild pitch and the Skyhawks tied the contest on a fielding error for the 1-1 score.
The Jackets then erupted for five in the top of the second thanks to RBI singles from Clark and Ritch, a sacrifice fly by Geffert and a two-run bomb to left by Kerlejza for the 6-1 score.
Stonehill then erased the deficit and tied the contest at 6 apiece with a five run inninf of their own in the bottom of the third inning highlighted by a Fratus RBI base-knock and a two-run single to right by freshman Joe Klingensmith (Topsfield, Mass.).
AIC came back in the top of the fifth after Kerlejza stung a one-out double to right center and then scored on a double by sophomore Garrett Demers (Cranston, R.I.) for the 7-6 lead.
The game continued to go back-and-forth as Stonehill regained the lead in the bottom of the frame with the big blow coming with the bases loaded as sophomore Ben Monte (New Haven, Conn.) blasted a bases clearing double into the right centerfield gap for the 11-7 score.
The Skyhawks would add an insurance run in the sixth for the 12-7 score. The Jackets rallied in their final at-bats as they loaded the bases thanks to a pair of hits batsman and a single by Kerlejza.
Demers then hit an RBI groundout to first and Geffert crossed home on a wild pitch before the final out was recorded for the 12-9 final.
The Skyhawks outhit the Jackets 10-8 in the night cap.
Freshman Nick Kennedy (Longmeadow, Mass.) didn't factor in the decision after hurling the first three innings surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits with three free passes and a pair of strikeouts. Junior Jeff Kraucunas (Enfield, Conn.) was dealt the loss after tossing 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs (one earned) with one walk and one strikeout to fall to 0-1 on the year.
Sophomore Pat Hurley (Roslindale, Mass.) pitched tremendous in relief for the Skyhawks earning the decision after going 3.2 innings allowing just one run on one hit with four strikeouts to improve to 1-0 on the year.
American International continues their southern trip as they travel to Palm Beach Atlantic for a 6 p.m. contest tomorrow evening.
