SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Sophomore Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with the eventual game-winning two-run single to help American International College defeat Adelphi University, 4-3, in the opening game of a three-game Northeast-10 Southwest divisional series this afternoon from Bedard Field.

With the win the Jackets improve to 11-19 overall and 6-7 in divisional play while the Panthers even their record at 15-15 on the year and 7-5 in NE-10 SW action with the setback.

Adelphi got on the board first in the top of the fifth grabbing a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by senior Donato Signore (Bronx, N.Y.), however, junior Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) settled down and recorded a strikeout and induced a fly-out to leave the bases loaded and minimize the damage.

AIC responded in the bottom of the sixth as graduate student Dave Clark (West Springfield, Mass.) singled to start the frame and came around to score on a fielder's choice by senior Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) for the 1-1 tie.

Then in the seventh the Jackets hung a three-spot on the board with just the two-run single to center by Starcun as the only hit. The other run scored one batter earlier as Clark was struck by a pitch with the bases-loaded to force home a run for the 4-1 advantage.

In the ninth the Panthers didn't go quietly as Signore knocked home a pair with a single to left for the 4-3 game with no outs.

Then after a sacrifice bunt placed the tying run at second base sophomore Mike Gentile III (Windsor Locks, Conn.) trotted in from the bullpen and shut to door for his second save of the season.

Sledzik picked up the win to improve to 5-1 as he tossed eight-plus innings scattering seven hits while surrendering three runs (two earned) without walking a batter and striking out five.

Panther senior Nikolas Batas (Merrick, N.Y.) was dealt the loss to fall to 2-2 on the year after hurling 1.1 innings allowing two runs (one earned) without surrendering a hit and fanning a pair in relief of sophomore T.J. Santiago (Linden, N.J.) who pitched into the sixth allowing one run on six hits.

Freshman classmates C.J. Boykin (Nashua, N.H.) and Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) went 2-for-5 and 2-for-3, respectively to join Starcun with multiple hits on the day.

Each squad registered eight hits on the afternoon while Adelphi left 11 runners on base to only nine for AIC.

The two teams return to Bedard Field tomorrow to finish off the series with a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m.