NEW HAVEN, Conn. Freshman Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) went a combined 6-for-8 with four doubles in a Northeast-10 Southwest division split with Southern Connecticut this afternoon from the Ballpark at SCSU.
The Jackets won the first game 4-1 before dropping a 1-0 decision in the nightcap. With the split AIC improves to 4-11 on the year and secure their first divisional victory to move to 1-4 while the Owls jump to 11-12 on the season and 3-5 in NE-10 SW action.
In game one the Jackets jumped out early thanks to a sacrifice fly by junior Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) to plate Starcun who doubled to start the frame for the 1-0 score after two innings.
Then in the fourth it was déjà vu as the same duo combined for another run in similar fashion as Starcun led off with a double and Ritch knocked him in with a sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead.
AIC then doubled their lead in the top half of the seventh inning as graduate student Dave Clark (W. Springfield, Mass.) laced a two-bagger to right and came around to score on a two-run blast to left field by senior Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) for the 4-0 edge.
The Owls managed to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by senior Julian Sobin (Ansonia, Conn.) making the score 4-1.
However, that was as close as they would get as junior Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to retire the side and pick up the complete game victory, his second of the year. The junior improves to 3-0 after allowing just the one run while scattering seven hits and striking out three.
Junior Mike Yernia (Trumbull, Conn.) was dealt the loss after tossing eight innings surrendering four runs on 10 hits while fanning five.
Game two was a complete pitcher's duel as both pitchers went the distance with AIC senior David Kerlejza (Unionville, Conn.) being the tough luck loser to fall to 0-1 on the year as he scattered six hits allowing the solo run in eight innings of work.
Owl senior A.J. Turnier (Waterford, Conn.) went all nine allowing just three hits while fanning seven to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The only run came in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI infield single by senior Joe Breen (Nashua, N.H.) for the 1-0 score.
The Jackets got a runner to second in the top of the seventh thanks to a walk and a wild pitch, but were unable to advance him from there. Then in the eighth a single by Vallas gave AIC a baserunner, however, after pinch running for the big first-baseman his replacement was tossed trying to steal second to end the threat.
The Jackets went down in order in the ninth to close out the game.
Starcun followed up his 4-for-4 performance in game one with a 2-for-4 effort in game two while freshman catcher Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) was 2-for-4 in the opener as AIC outhit the hosts 10-7 in game one, but were outhit 6-3 in the nightcap.
The Jackets return home for a non-divisional match-up with Assumption on Monday at 3:30 for their long awaited home opener.
