ALBANY, N.Y. The American International College baseball team dropped a tough, 2-1, decision to the College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Southwest Division action this afternoon from Bob Bellizzi Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex.
The loss drops AIC to 10-30 overall and 4-8 in the division while The Golden Knights earn the season sweep of the Yellow Jackets moving to 16-13 on the year and 7-3 in the NE-10 Southwest.
The Jackets started the scoring early with a little two-out magic in the top of the first as junior Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) singled up the middle and came around to score on a triple by classmate K.J. White for the 1-0 advantage.
The Golden Knights fought back to tie the score in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Tyler Ungerland and Alex Chandler for the 1-1 score.
The in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh, Saint Rose got a runner to second with less than two-outs, but senior Harrison Paige (Springfield, Mass.) was able to get out of the jam to preserve the tie game.
However, the Knights finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth as Chandler ripped his second RBI double of the contest for the 2-1 edge.
Paige was dealt the loss falling to 0-7 on the season after surrendering one lone run off three hits in three innings of work. Junior right-hander Brian Karp (Bellmore, N.Y.) did not factor in the decision after tossing the first five plus innings allowing just a single run on four hits with six strikeouts.
Senior Phillip Zdanowski settled in a didn't allow a hit after the first inning to secure the victory after hurling the first eight innings striking out four while walking four allowing just the single run on two hits. Classmate Joe Pokrentowski earned the save pitching a scoreless ninth frame.
The hosts outhit the visitors 7-2 in the contest.
The Jackets return to action this weekend with a crucial three-game Southwest Division series against Southern Connecticut with a double-header on Saturday and single contest on Sunday afternoon.
