MIAMI SHORES, Fla. The American International College baseball team was victim of the long-ball in their season opener as they dropped a, 19-6, contest to Barry University in non-conference baseball action this evening from Feinbloom Field.
AIC(0-1) opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning as junior Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) lofted a high homerun just inside the foul pole down the left field line for the 1-0 edge.
The Bucs (12-6) responded in their half of the frame with a four-spot as senior Alexander DeGoti (Miami, Fla.) blasted a two-run homer to deep right field and junior Khalil Denson (Los Angelos, Calif.) knocked in a pair with a single to right.
Barry continued to use power to extend their lead with a ten run bottom of the second highlighted by a trio of two-run homers for the 14-1 score. Senior centerfielder Carlos Matamoros (West Miami, Fla.), DeGoti and sophomore Ryan Baldwin (Fairhaven, Mass.) each smacked round-trippers for the hosts.
The Buccaneers continued to swing hot bats and added a solo run in each of the next three innings before the Jackets got back on the board as sophomore Alex LaFayette (Ludlow, Mass.) reached on a throwing error that scored senior Brett Bohl (Ludlow, Mass.) and Starcun for the 17-3 deficit in the top of the sixth inning.
Senior Karl Kapinos (South Hadley, Mass.) quickly doubled the Yellow Jacket offensive output with one swing of the bat in the top of the eighth as he belted a three-run tall jack to right field for the 17-6 score.
Barry added a pair of runs in their half of the eighth on a run-producing single and fielder's choice for the final score.
Starcun finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored to go with his first-inning homer.
The Bucs outslugged AIC 26-7 while committing three miscues to one for the Yellow Jackets.
Alex Lavandero scooped up the victory after tossing the first 7.1 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits with 11 strikeouts and zero walks to improve to 2-0 on the year while senior Harrison Paige (Springfield, Mass.) is dealt the loss after hurling just one-third of an inning allowing four runs all earned on three hits to fall to 0-1 on the campaign as the Yellow Jackets used six pitchers on the night.
The two teams conclude their series tomorrow with a double-header starting at 1 p.m. The first game will be nine innings and the second will be a seven-inning affair.
