SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Junior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) went 4-for-8 on the day with a huge grand slam home-run in the finale to help American International split a Northeast-10 Southwest division doubleheader against New Haven this afternoon at Bedard Field.
AIC improves to 17-20 on the year and 10-8 in divisional action while UNH falls to 16-14 overall and 10-8 in NE-10 SW play.
After getting their win-streak snapped with a 3-2 game-one loss the Jackets found out they had secured a playoff spot even before a pitch was thrown in game-two as Pace defeated Le Moyne 4-1 to eliminate the Dolphins from contention.
So the only thing left in the balance was who would host the first-round game on Tuesday and that was what was on the line in game-two.
New Haven opened the scoring plating a single run in the top of the third on an RBI single to left by sophomore Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y.) for the 1-0 edge.
The Jackets came right back in the bottom of the inning to grab a 4-1 lead with one swing of the bat as Geffert deposited the ball over the 370 sign in left center for the grand slam.
UNH grabbed a pair back in the top of the fourth on run-producing singles by sophomores Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y.) and Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y.) for the 4-3 score.
AIC then got one back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double down the left field line by freshman C.J. Boykin (Nashua, N.H.) and added a pair in the eighth on a two-run single by freshman Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) for the 7-3 score.
New Haven registered a late ninth inning run on an RBI groundout to second for the 7-4 final.
Sophomore Mike Gentile III (Windsor Locks, Conn.) earned the decision to improve to 3-3 on the year after tossing the first eight innings allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
Freshman Will Aldam (Danbury, Conn.) was dealt the loss as he went the first three innings allowing four runs on three hits with a trio of strikeouts to fall to 2-2.
"This is a special group they faced adversity at the beginning of the season, but never gave up" head coach Nick Callini commented after the game.
This marks the first time in 15 years the AIC will make it to the NE-10 postseason tournament as their last appearance was in 2000.
The Jackets ran off 12 of their final 14 to finish the season including eight of their last 10 divisional games while winning the final three series of the year against Pace, Adelphi and New Haven to earn the No. 2 seed in the Southwest Division.
"The team worked hard and bought in to achieve something special" Callini added. "It's great for the program to experience something that hasn't happened in 15 years."
The Chargers also opened the scoring in game-one as in the top of the second sophomore Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right center for the 1-0 edge.
AIC responded in the bottom of the third as with two-outs Boykin made things happen as he forced a balk to move to second and proceeded to take third while the pitcher was staring in for the sign. Then, junior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) sent one off the base of the wall in centerfield for the RBI double and 1-1 tie.
The Jackets had a golden opportunity to grab the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Geffert doubled to left with one-out but Charger freshman RHP David Palmer (East Islip, N.Y.) induced back-to-back groundouts to get out of the inning.
Then, in the top of the eighth with runners on the corners and two-outs senior RHP David Kerlejza (Unionville, Conn.) picked the runner at first, however, senior Brendan O'Reilly (Devon, Penn.) broke for home from third and crossed the plate before the out was recorded for the 2-1 advantage.
The Chargers then grabbed an insurance run in the ninth as sophomore Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn.) led off with a solo homer to right field for the 3-1 lead.
AIC didn't go without a fight as they loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame with singles from sophomore Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) and Garrett Demers (Cranston, R.I.) and freshman Alex LaFayette (Ludlow, Mass.) reached on an error before fellow sophomore K.J. White (Wilbraham, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice deep to right center for the 3-2 final.
Kerlejza takes the loss to fall to 1-4 on the year after tossing the first 8.2 innings allowing three runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts. Junior reliever Brian Caselli (Stratford, Conn.) earned the decision to improve to 2-1 on the year after surrendering just one earned run on three hits over the final three frames.
The Chargers outhit the Jackets 11-9 in the opener and 9-7 in the finale.
In between games Kerlejza, graduate student Dave Clark (West Springfield, Mass.) and senior Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) were honored in a breif ceremony as part of Senior Day.
Both teams will return to action again as AIC hosts the Chargers in the opening round of the NE-10 Championship Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
