HAVERHILL, Massachusetts The American International College baseball team went 1-3 during the four-game weekend series against Assumption College and Merrimack College Saturday and Sunday.
After the two doubleheaders, the Yellow Jackets now have a 4-13 overall record and a 1-3 NE10 record. Assumption moves to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in conference. Merrimack moves to 8-10 overall and 2-0 in the NE10.
The Yellow Jackets split their doubleheader against Assumption, losing the first contest 7-4 and winning 8-0 in seven innings in game two.
In the first game against the Greyhounds, the Yellow Jackets got behind early, but came back in the second inning to tie it at one. Brendan Carter was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded after three straight walks to score Travis Seymour.
An explosive third inning pushed the Yellow Jackets lead to 4-1. With runners on first and second, Andrew Ciacciareli put down an expertly placed bunt to single, loading the bases. Seymour was next up, and waited patiently at the plate, drawing a walk to bring in a run. A string of wild pitches scored Dan Frawley, who singled early in the inning, and Seymour to make it 4-1.
That would be the last time the Yellow Jackets scored, as the Greyhounds came on strong in the ninth, scoring six straight en route to a 7-4 victory.
Ryaning Bruning started game one for AIC, as he went six innings, getting a no decision. In his six innings, Bruning gave up three hits, one unearned run, four walks and three strikeouts. Anthony Crudale (1-1) came in to pitch relief, going 2.2 innings. In his time on the mound, Crudale let up three hits, six runs, none earned, two walks and three strikeouts. Brendan LaVallee pitched the remaining third of an inning, only walking one batter.
The Yellow Jackets saw better success in game two against the Greyhounds, scoring first in the second inning with three runs. Trent Dillion reached base on a sacrifice bunt attempt that scored Eugene Quirk from third base for the first run of the game. K.J. White followed up later in the inning with a two RBI single that scored Josh Aviles and Dillon to make it a 3-0 game.
White stuck again in the fourth inning with a two RBI double to center field to score Seymour and Aviles, pushing the Yellow Jacket lead to five. The last three runs were scored by AIC in the sixth inning, with Matt Krause getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Aviles. Mike Wroth added the cherry on top for AIC, with a two RBI ground-rule double that brought home White and Seymour. The contest was called after the top of the seventh due to thick fog rolling in.
Jason Coscio (1-1) pitched all seven innings for AIC as he picked up his first win of the year. In the win, Coscio let up only two hits, two walks, and struck out six batters.
The Yellow Jackets came back to Haverhill to face the Warriors, losing both matchups 4-1 and 8-1.
In the first game against Merrimack, the Yellow Jackets wasted no time in getting on the board, as Wroth singled to left field scoring White from second base to make it 1-0. The Warriors struck back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead off an RBI single and a costly throwing error that brought two unearned runs in. A RBI single in the fifth for Merrimack brought their lead up to four, as that would be the last time either team could get a run across.
Matt Costanza (2-3) got the nod for the first game, pitching seven inning in the process. In those seven innings, Costanza allowed six hits, four runs, two of which were earned, one walk and four strikeouts. JD LeHouiller was brought in to pitch relief for the remaining two innings, letting up just one hit.
In the second contest, the Warriors had their way with the Yellow Jackets in the first inning, scoring five of their eight runs. Errors plagued AIC, as they committed four of them in the inning alone. All five runs that the Warriors scored were unearned, as they were effected by fielding and throwing errors along with two passed balls. Merrimack tacked on two more runs in the second inning with an RBI single to center field and a RBI ground-rule double to give Merrimack a 7-0 lead. The last run for the Warriors came to pass in the third inning with a RBI double sent down the left field line to push the score to 8-0; it was the lone earned run for Merrimack.
The Yellow Jackets broke the shut out in the seventh inning when White led off with a walk. He would eventually make it to third base after reaching second on a fielding error on a ball hit by Krause, and then moving onto third after being interfered with by the shortstop. A long sac fly by Chris Starcun to right field was all it took to drive in White from third, making it an 8-1 affair.
That was the last score of the game, as both teams held each other in check for the remainder of the contest.
Cam Winiarz (0-2) started the second game for AIC, going five full innings. Winiarz let up 10 hits, eight runs, with just one earned, and four walks in his five innings of work. Joe Pepe was the first relief pitcher brought in for AIC, going three innings. Pepe let up two hits and struck out five. Tanner Brakken pitched the final frame, letting up one hit and one walk.
AIC resumes action when they travel to Waterbury, CT to play the Eagles of Post University. Game time is set for Wednesday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m.
