WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. The American International College baseball team dropped a pair of games in the last inning to Palm Beach Atlantic, 8-7 and 2-1, in a non-conference double-header this afternoon from Rubin Park.
Sailfish senior Julian Bilodeau (Whitestone, N.Y.) was the kryptonite for AIC delivering with a walk-off single in the ninth inning of game one and a walk-off round-tripper in the seventh inning of the finale.
In game one, PBA (14-9) threatened in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases with two outs on three straight singles to left before senior right-hander Harrison Paige (Springfield, Mass.) got the next batter looking to close the frame without any damage.
However, in the next inning the Sailfish would strike first on a two-out, run-producing, infield cue-shot to second base by sophomore Mac Hessney (Weston, Fla.) for the 1-0 edge.
The Jackets (3-8) threatened with two gone in the top of the fourth as senior Karl Kapinos (South Hadley, Mass.) tripled to left center, but was stranded as a strikeout closed the inning before the hosts added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth as junior Peter Rivera (Wellington, Fla.) blasted a two-run homer off the light pole in left for the 3-0 advantage.
AIC came right back in the top of the sixth as senior Brett Bohl (Ludlow, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to open the frame and classmate Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) blasted a two-run homerun to deep left field. The Jackets continued to press as junior Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) and sophomore Alex LaFayette (Ludlow, Mass.) followed with singles and Kapinos loaded the bases as he was hit by a pitch.
Junior K.J. White (Wilbraham, Mass.) then stepped to the plate and deposited the first offering he saw high over the left field fence for the grand-slam and 6-3 lead.
However, the Fish came swimming back to take the lead during their sixth inning at-bats as sophomore Jake Summey (Wellington, Fla.) drove home a pair with a single and then came around to score on an error before Hessney produced a run with a single for the 7-6 score.
AIC did tie things again on a passed ball in the seventh, but PBA walked off with the opening win on a two-out single in the ninth by Bilodeau for the 8-7 final.
Paige didn't factor in the decision after going the first 5.2 innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts while freshman Thomas Chapdelaine (East Longmeadow, Mass.) was dealt the loss pitching two thirds of an inning allowing the winning run on one hit to fall to 0-1.
PBA sophomore David Paul (Clearwater, Fla.) pitched three scoreless innings without allowing a hit to pick up the victory and improve to 2-0 on the year.
Palm Beach Atlantic outhit the visitors 15-7 in the opener.
Game two was a little less offensive for both squads as there were only three combined hits through the first four and a half innings before the Sailfish doubled that with a trio of singles in the bottom of the fifth to score a run and take the 1-0 lead.
The Jackets came right back in the ensuing half inning as they loaded the bases with two outs and freshman pinch-runner Brendan Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) came around to score on a wild pitch for the 1-1 tie.
The score remained that way to set the stage for Bilodeau as he was again the hero in the bottom of the seventh when he lifted a 1-2 offering high and deep to left for the walk-off homer and 2-1 victory.
The Fish held the slim 5-3 edge in hits for game three.
Junior Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) was dealt the loss after tossing a complete game allowing both runs on five hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts to even his record at 1-1 on the year.
AIC will now head back north and open their northern schedule as they travel to LIU Post on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. affair.
