EASTON, Mass. The American International College baseball team was swept this afternoon in Northeast-10 cross-divisional doubleheader at Stonehill College from Lou Gorman Field.
AIC dropped the first game 10-9 before coming up short during a 2-0 pitcher's duel in game two.
The Jackets (6-23) continued their first-inning success of late in the opener plating three runs in the top of the first. Junior Chris Starcun (Easthampton, Mass.) ripped an RBI single to score freshman Brendan Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) who reached on an infield single to open the inning. Starcun then crossed home on a throwing error by the catcher before sophomore Eugene Quirk (Matawan, N.J.) capped the scoring with a run-producing base-knock to center field for the 3-0 lead.
AIC then loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning and plated a pair as senior Eddie Ritch (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) collected an RBI infield single to shortstop before another run crossed home on a passed ball for the 5-0 margin.
The Skyhawks (14-11) cut into the deficit in a big way in the bottom half of the frame, however, as senior Brian Campbell (Franklin, Mass.) blasted a three-run homer before an RBI single in the fourth by junior Ben Monte (New Haven, Conn.) cut things to 5-4 after four complete.
Stonehill scored two more in the fifth to take the lead before the Jackets regained the advantage stringing three straight hits together in the top of the sixth as senior Tyler Geffert (Hopedale, Mass.) laced an RBI triple, Starcun ripped an RBI double and junior K.J. White (Wilbraham, Mass.) collected a run-producing single for the 8-6 lead.
A sacrifice fly by the Skyhawks in the bottom half of the frame cut the lead to a single run, but senior Karl Kapinos (South Hadley, Mass.) doubled home a run in the eighth for the 9-7 margin before Stonehill walked off in the ninth with a pair of runs including the game-winning score on a single to center by sophomore Justin Nicklas (Foxboro, Mass.) for the 10-9 final.
Senior Mike Coyne (El Cajon, Calif.) was dealt the loss with a blown save to fall to 0-2 on the year giving up two runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning. Classmate Colin Sledzik (Higganum, Conn.) did not factor in the decision after tossing the first eight innings allowing eight runs (five earned) on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Jackets outhit the hosts 18-12 in the opener led by sophomore Reed Phillips (Longmeadow, Mass.) with a 4-for-5 day at the dish while Starcun and White had three hits apiece and Ritch and Geffert each had a pair of base-knocks.
Game two was a different story as more of a pitcher's duel as the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning when junior Steve Lee (Braintree, Mass.) belted a two-run homer for the only runs of the game.
Sophomore Jason Coscio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was dealt the short hand going the distance allowing just the two runs while scattering four hits and striking out four to fall to 0-3 on the year.
Coyne and freshman Travis Seymour (Chicopee, Mass.) each collected a pair of hits in the finale as AIC once again outhit the hosts 8-4.
The Jackets are back in action again tomorrow with a noontime twin-bill at Bentley.
