GARDEN CITY, New York - Led by a solid seven-inning performance from redshirt sophomore starting pitcher Joe Pepe in Game One, the American International College baseball team earned a split with Adelphi University in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 21.

FAST FACTS:
Game One:
Final score: AIC 8, Adelphi 4
Winning pitcher: Joe Pepe, AIC (4-3). Losing pitcher: Ed Baram, Adelphi (2-4).

Game Two:
Final score: AIC 6, Adelphi 9
Winning pitcher: Kieran McLaughlin, Adelphi (3-0). Losing pitcher: Jason Coscio, AIC (2-6). Save: David Butler, Adelphi (3).

Records: AIC moves to 15-21 on the year with a 6-12 mark in the NE10; Adelphi is now 18-14-1 overall with a 9-8 mark in conference play.
Location: William Bonomo Field

STATS LEADERS:
Game One:
AIC:
Joe Pepe (7.0 innings pitched, one earned run, seven hits, five strikeouts)
Brendan LaVallee (2-for-3, one RBI, two walks)
Josh Aviles (2-for-5, one RBI)
Matt Krause (2-for-4, one RBI)

Adelphi:
Tyler Warshefskie (2-for-4, one RBI)
Lucas Terwilliger (2-for-4, one RBI)

Game Two:
AIC:
Andrew Ciacciarelli (3-for-5, two runs scored)
Brendan LaVallee (2-for-5, one double, three RBI)
Joe Kemlage (3.1 innings pitched, three earned runs, nine hits)

Adelphi:
Withers (3-for-5, two doubles, three RBI)
Cicileo (2-for-5, one double, three RBI)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One:

• After two scoreless innings, the Yellow Jackets made a statement first, posting three runs in the top of the third and three more in the top of the fourth to jump out to a 6-0 lead early.
• Redshirt sophomore first baseman Andrew Ciacciarelli got things started in the third with an RBI single to score sophomore designated hitter Matt Costanza. Redshirt junior left fielder Reed Phillips then had a sac fly to bring home sophomore right fielder Matt Krause, and freshman catcher Will Johnson had an RBI single, sending Ciacciarelli across home and giving AIC the 3-0 advantage.
• In the fourth, junior center fielder Josh Aviles notched a single that scored freshman second baseman Angel Mendez, and junior shortstop Brendan Carter later scored after an error by the pitcher. Aviles scored later in the inning to extend the Yellow Jackets' lead to six runs.
• Adelphi put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth - just one earned - to come within 6-4.
• The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run in the top of the sixth off an RBI single from Krause, and added one more in the seventh inning with a single from sophomore third baseman Brendan LaVallee that scored Phillips.
• Sophomore pitcher James Flahive allowed just two hits over two innings and kept the Panthers from chipping away at the lead.

Game Two:

• After Adelphi got out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, AIC responded with a three-run third. Krause scored off an RBI single from Johnson, and LaVallee added an RBI double that scored Johnson and Phillips to even the score at three runs apiece.
• AIC took the lead in the fifth when LaVallee reached on an error and Ciacciarelli capitalized, scoring to push the Yellow Jackets ahead, 4-3.
• Adelphi added three runs in the sixth to notch a 6-4 lead.
• However, AIC would battle back once again, tying the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh with a pair of RBI singles from LaVallee and Mendez.
• The Panthers regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame, though, putting three runs on the board to take the lead for good.

BUZZWORTHY:

• For the first time in his collegiate career, LaVallee posted back-to-back multi-hit games.
• Pepe lowered his season ERA to 3.79 with his fourth seven-inning showing of the season. He also tied a season high with five strikeouts.

NEXT UP:

• With the series victory on the line, AIC and Adelphi will conclude the three-game series on Sunday, April 22. First pitch is set for 12 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.