DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. The American International College baseball squad dropped a pair of games to Mercy College, 5-0 and 3-0, in a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon.
In game one Mercy (7-9) jumped to a quick 3-0 edge after two innings without hitting the ball particularly hard. The Mavericks scored on a groundout, a dropped fly-ball and an infield single to account for the three-run advantage.
The Jackets (5-12) threatened in the top of the fourth as they loaded the bases with no-outs thanks to singles by freshman Brendan Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) and senior Brett Bohl (Ludlow, Mass.) and a walk to senior Tyler Geffert (Hopdale, Mass.), but Maverick junior Matt Nalbone (Islip, N.Y.) got the next batter swinging and induced a double-play to get out of the inning unscathed.
Mercy then pushed a couple more runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth on wild pitches to grab the 5-0 margin.
Bohl then attempted a little two-out magic in the top of the sixth as he doubled to right center and Geffert was struck by a pitch to put runners on first and second, but again Nalbone induced a soft grounder to end the frame and preserve the shutout.
Nalbone went the distance to improve to 2-2 on the season after scattering five hits while striking out 10 in nine innings. AIC sophomore Nick Kennedy was dealt the loss falling to 2-2 on the year after allowing five runs (three earned) off seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Mercy held the slim 8-5 edge in hits in the opener.
The Mavericks opened the scoring in game two as well by plating a solo run in the third before grabbing a pair on an two-run double to left by senior Giovanni Lasalandra (Warwick, N.Y.) for the 3-0 edge.
AIC never truly threatened in the finale as they were unable to string multiple hits together being outhit 9-5.
Senior James Patterson (Cornwall, N.Y.) went the distance scattering those five hits while striking out seven in seven innings to improve to 1-1 on the year. AIC senior Harrison Paige (Springfield, Mass.) was dealt the loss to fall to 0-4 on the year after tossing six innings giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts.
Senior Karl Kapinos (South Hadley, Mass.) had a pair of hits in game-two after Bohl was the lone Jacket with multiple hits in the opener and added another in the finale for a combined 3-for-6 day at the dish.
The Jackets return to action on Tuesday afternoon as they host Post University for a 3:30 p.m. affair.
