SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Freshman Alex LaFayette (Ludlow, Mass.) went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three runs scored to help American International College defeat New Haven, 12-5, in the opening game of a Northeast-10 Southwest Divisional series this afternoon at Bedard Field.
With the win AIC extends their winning-streak to seven games and improve to 16-19 on the year and 9-7 in divisional play while UNH falls to 15-13 overall and 9-7 in NE-10 SW action.
The Chargers opened the scoring in the first with an RBI single to left by sophomore Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn.) for the 1-0 edge before the Jackets grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back.
After a lead-off walk to senior Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) LaFayette stepped to the plate and deposited the second pitch he saw high and far to left center for a no-doubt blast and the 2-1 lead.
Freshman Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth as with runners on first and second and two-outs he blooped a double down the right field line to plate LaFayette for the 3-1 advantage.
New Haven cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth as senior Zach Collett (Westbroke, Maine) laced a two-out double to left and crossed home on a wild pitch, but AIC promptly responded by batting around and hanging a seven spot on the board in the bottom half of the inning for the 10-2 lead.
The inning was highlighted by a sacrifice fly from junior Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), run-producing singles by junior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) and graduate student Dave Clark (West Springfield, Mass.) and a two-run double by sophomore Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.).
New Haven kept charging and chipped into the lead with a three-run homer to left by senior Kyle Cullen (Dumont, N.J.) in the top of the eighth for the 10-5 score.
The Jackets would get insurance in the bottom of the inning as freshman C.J. Boykin (Nashua, N.H.) led off with a bunt single and crossed home on a groundout by Starcun and Vallas singled home Clark later in the frame for the 12-5 final.
Freshman Jason Coscio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) pitched a scoreless final frame and was aided by a fly ball double-play as Geffert hosed a potential runner trying to tag from third to end the game.
The Jackets turned three double-plays on the day and all were fly ball double-plays two of which were by Geffert and the other was by LaFayette.
Junior Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) earned the decision to improve to 6-1 on the year as he tossed eight innings surrendering five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Charger sophomore Vincent Aprea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) took the loss after going 5.2 innings allowing 10 runs on 11 hits with three walks and five punchouts.
Geffert joined LaFayette with three hits of his own while Starcun and Vallas each added a pair of hits and Starcun drove in three as AIC outhit the visitors 13-11 on the day.
Both teams return to Bedard Field tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at noon.
