WEST HAVEN, Conn. The American International College baseball team dropped the series finale to Pace University by a 4-1 score in Northeast-10 Southwest divisional play this afternoon at the University of New Haven.

The Jackets fall to 9-19 on the year and 4-7 in divisional play while Pace improves to 16-14 overall and 9-4 in NE-10 Southwest action.

Pace struck first to get on the board by plating four unearned runs in the bottom of the third on a pair of bases loaded walks and a two-run single by senior Brett Bittiger (Saylorburg, Pa.).

AIC then got their lone score of the day in the top of the sixth as graduate student Dave Clark (West Springfield, Mass.) registered a sacrifice fly to score junior Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) who singled to start the frame for the 4-1 score.

Senior David Kerlejza (Unionville, Conn.) was dealt the loss to fall to 0-3 on the year after hurling the first seven without allowing an earned run scattering seven hits and fanning nine while his counterpart, senior Tim Deegan (Levittown, N.Y.), picked up the victory after tossing the first 5.1 innings allowing just the one run on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Junior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance to extend his hitting-streak to seven games, but the Jackets were outhit 7-5 in the game.

American International returns to action on Wednesday as they host Saint Rose for the series finale as they look to salvage a game as they are 0-2 this season against the Golden Knights. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.