PLEASANTSVILLE, New York The American International College baseball team was swept by the Pace Setters by a score of 3-2 and 3-1, going a combined 0-3 in the weekend series against Pace.
With the defeats, the Yellow Jackets drop to 9-21 overall and 4-11 in conference. Pace now stands at 21-10 overall and 11-3 in conference.
The first game of the double header saw the Yellow Jackets and Setters locked in a pitching duel, as the only runs of the game came and went in the fourth inning. AIC struck first, seeing K.J White double down the left field to start the inning.
Chris Starcun walked to give the Jackets runners on first and second. A ground out by the next batter moved Starcun and White over a base respectively.
Mike Wroth brought White around to score on an RBI single out to right field to give AIC a 1-0 lead.
Eugene Quirk was next up, reaching on a fielding error by Pace's Shortstop, allowing Starcun to score safely to make it 2-0.
Pace countered in the bottom of the inning, as an error by White allowed a runner to score from second base, making it now a 2-1 game. A single past Costanza drove in the second run from third, tying it up at two. A ground out to the pitcher was all that was needed to give Pace the lead, as a runner from third came home to give the Setters a 3-2 lead. After the fourth, the Jackets and Setters dug in for the rest of the game, allowing no runs for the rest of the contest.
AIC went with
Cam Winiarz (Loss, 0-3) to start game one, going six innings and picking up his third loss of the year. In his six innings of work, Winiarz gave up seven hits, three runs, two earned, two walks, and two strike outs.
Anthony Crudale was brought in to pitch the remaining two innings, walking two batters and striking out one.
For game two of the double header, the Setters started with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as a rundown at second base allowed a runner for Pace to score from third before the tag out was applied. The Yellow Jackets replied with a run of their own in the top of the third, as
Travis Seymour walked with an out to begin the inning.
Brendan Carter advanced Seymour to second after grounding out to third. A deep single by
Josh Aviles to left field gave Seymour enough time to score, tying the game up 1-1.
The tie was eventually broken up in the bottom of the seventh with a sac fly out to left field that allowed a runner from third base to tag up and move Pace ahead 2-1. The Setters drove one more run in the eighth inning with a RBI double down the right field line to score a runner from second, making it 3-1. AIC was able to get a runner in scoring position in the ninth inning, but was unable to capitalize on their chances, falling to Pace 3-1 in the second game of the double header.
Matt Costanza (Loss, 3-4) went the distance, pitching all eight innings, unfortunately getting his fourth loss of the year. In those eight innings, Costanza let up four hits, three runs, two earned, two walks while striking out two.
The Yellow Jackets see action again Tuesday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. as they travel back to New York to face off against the Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose.
