SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College baseball team was swept in cross-division Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader by no. 5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University, 7-2 and 9-4, this afternoon from Bedard Field.
The losses drop AIC's record to 6-18 while the wins push FPU's record to 24-2 on the season.
The Jackets opened the scoring early in game one by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as senior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) laced an RBI double down the leftfield line before junior Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) followed with a run-producing single to right for the 2-0 edge.
The Ravens fought back in the top of the third taking advantage of a pair of defensive miscues to plate three runs and take the 3-2 advantage after an RBI double from senior Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.), who was hosed trying to stretch things into a triple to prevent further damage.
FPU added a solo run in fourth before tacking on three runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run double from graduate student Matt Burns (Parkland, Fla.) and an RBI triple by senior Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.) for the 7-2 margin.
AIC was unable to threaten after the opening inning as Raven sophomore Anthony Matarazzo (Medford, Mass.) settled in nicely after the opening frame allowing just three hits the rest of the way while improving to 5-0 allowing just the two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.
Senior Harrison Paige (Springfield, Mass.) was dealt the loss to fall to 0-5 on the year after allowing seven runs (three earned) on six hits with a pair of strikeouts in six innings of work.
Both teams recorded seven hits in the opener.
In game two it was FPU getting on the board in the opening frame as they took advantage of back-to-back walks to start the inning, eventually grabbing a single run on a sacrifice fly to center by junior Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) for the 1-0 edge.
AIC came back in the top of the second as Starcun led off with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice fly to left by sophomore Reed Phillips (East Longmeadow, Mass.), but in the top half of the fourth inning the Ravens got the run back on an RBI groundout for the 2-1 score.
The Jackets came right back in the bottom of the fourth to take their first lead of the finale as senior Mike Coyne (El Cajon, Calif.) laced a two-out, two-run double to centerfield and came around to score on a single up the middle by freshman Josh Aviles (Naugatuck, Conn.) for the 4-2 margin.
Jabs would add an RBI double to right in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit in half before the skies opened and a 35 minute hail delayed ensued. Following the delay junior Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) singled through the left side to score Jabs and tie the game at 4-4.
The Ravens would again take advantage of three AIC miscues and use five hits to collect five runs in the top of the eighth to grab the 9-4 advantage.
Sophomore Nick Kennedy (Longmeadow, Mass.) did not factor in the decision tossing 6.2 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hit with four strikeouts. Junior Anthony Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) absorbed the game two loss allowing four runs (two earned) in 1/3 of an inning after tossing three scoreless frames in the opener.
FPU outslugged AIC 12-7 in the night cap.
The Jackets return to action tomorrow with a twin-bill against So. New Hampshire at noontime.
