MIAMI SHORES, Florida - The American International College baseball team swept Post University by scores of 2-1 and 5-2 on Thursday, March 15.
FAST FACTS:
Final scores: AIC 2, Post 1 (Game One); AIC 5, Post 2 (Game Two) - both seven innings
Records: AIC improves to 6-5 overall; Post is now 8-8.
Location: Feinbloom Field (Miami Shores, Florida)
STATS LEADERS:
Game One:
AIC:
Matt Costanza (2-for-2, one walk)
Andrew Ciacciarelli (1-for-3, one run scored)
Brendan LaVallee (2-for-2, one walk)
Post:
Tyler Pavone (2-for-3)
Jose Vasquez (1-for-3, one run scored)
Winning pitcher: Matt Costanza (7.0 innings pitched, one earned run, nine strikeouts, five hits)
Losing pitcher: Matt D'Ariano (1.2 IP, one earned run, two hits, three walks)
Game Two:
AIC:
Andrew Ciacciarelli (2-for-3, one RBI, one double)
Matthew Elliott (1-for-2, two RBI,
Brendan Carter (2-for-3, one RBI)
Post:
John Cartagena (3-for-4, two RBI)
Don Walsh (3-for-4, one run scored)
WP:
Joe Kemlage (5.0 IP, two earned runs, five strikeouts, 11 hits, one walk)
LP: Dan Raglievich (4.0 IP, four earned runs, seven hits, two strikeouts, two walks)
Save:
James Flahive (2.0 IP, one hit, one strikeout)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One:
- Post got on the board early when Don Walsh scored Jose Vasquez on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first; after that, AIC sophomore starting pitcher Matt Costanza, giving up no more runs over the rest of the game.
- AIC's deficit was short-lived as well, as with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, redshirt sophomore first baseman Andrew Ciacciarelli scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1. During the same at-bat, junior shortstop Brendan Carter hit a single to center field, scoring junior center fielder Josh Aviles and putting the Yellow Jackets ahead, 2-1.
- Costanza threw nine strikeouts over the course of the contest, allowing a total of just five hits in a complete-game effort.
Game Two:
- AIC was on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning off RBI singles from junior designated hitter Matthew Elliott and Carter.
- The Eagles cut into the Yellow Jackets' lead, coming within 2-1 in the third, but AIC extended its lead back to two runs in the bottom half of the third with an RBI double from Ciacciarelli.
- The Yellow Jackets got out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth when sophomore right fielder Matt Krause hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Aviles. Though Post got back within 4-2 in the fifth inning, AIC sealed a 5-2 victory with a sacrifice fly from Elliott to score freshman catcher Anthony Clark.
BUZZWORTHY:
- Costanza's nine strikeouts is a single-game high for any AIC pitcher this season. Notably, he closed each frame with a strikeout.
- AIC has swept two of its three doubleheaders this season.
NEXT UP:
- AIC plays a single game against the New York Institute of Technology on Friday, March 16 in Lantana, Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
- For more updates about the AIC baseball team, follow @AIC_baseball on Instagram. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow @AICAthletics on Twitter and Instagram, and like AIC Yellow Jackets on Facebook.