HOOKSETT, New Hampshire - Seven solid innings from redshirt sophomore starting pitcher
Joe Pepe guided the American International College baseball team toward a victory over Southern New Hampshire University in an eventual doubleheader split on Sunday, April 8.
FAST FACTS:
Game One:
Final score: AIC 4, SNHU 3
Winning pitcher: Joe Pepe, AIC (3-2).
Losing pitcher: Endy Morales, SNHU (2-2).
Save: James Flahive, AIC (2).
Game Two:
Final score: AIC 4, SNHU 9
Winning pitcher: Nick Artymowicz, SNHU (2-0).
Losing pitcher: Kyle Pingree, AIC (0-1).
Records: AIC moves to 13-16 and 4-8 in the Northeast-10 Conference; SNHU is now 17-11 and 5-4 in league play.
Location: Penmen Field
STATS LEADERS:
Game One:
AIC:
Joe Pepe (7.0 innings pitched, two earned runs, six hits, five strikeouts)
James Flahive (2.0 innings pitched, no runs, no hits)
Matt Krause (3-for-5)
Reed Phillips (2-for-5, one run scored)
SNHU:
Dakota Mulcay (1-for-4, two RBI)
Tom Blandini (3-for-4, one double)
Game Two:
AIC:
Josh Aviles (2-for-4, three runs scored)
Matt Costanza (2-for-3, one RBI)
Matt Krause (2-for-5, one double, one RBI)
Jason Coscio (3.0 innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, three strikeouts)
SNHU:
Dakota Mulcay (2-for-3, home run)
Kyle Pangallo (2-for-3, two RBI)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One:
- Pepe started off the game with three perfect innings; both teams went scoreless through the first three frames.
- AIC struck first in the fourth inning, starting with a two-out walk issued to freshman third baseman Will Johnson. Freshman second baseman Angel Mendez then notched a single to put runners on first and second; junior center fielder Josh Aviles walked to load the bases, and junior shortstop Brendan Carter drew a walk to push a run across home plate and put the Yellow Jackets up 1-0.
- SNHU went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs,but AIC would not back down, responding with a three-run fifth. Redshirt junior left fielder Reed Phillips and freshman catcher Anthony Clark began the inning with a single and walk, and junior first baseman Matthew Elliott had an RBI single to tie the game. Clark then scored, putting AIC up 3-2, on an RBI single from Johnson, and Elliott pushed the lead to 4-2 when he scored on a passed ball.
- The Penmen scored one more in the bottom of the fifth, but would get no closer than 4-3 as sophomore pitcher James Flahive closed out the game with two hitless innings to secure the victory for AIC.
Game Two:
- SNHU set the tone early with a second-inning solo home run to take a 1-0 lead.
- AIC battled to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, starting with a leadoff single from Aviles. Carter moved Aviles up with a sacrifice bunt, and Aviles found his way to third on a passed ball. Sophomore designated hitter Matt Costanza then notched an RBI single to tie the game up at 1-1. Sophomore right fielder Matt Krause put runners on second and third with a double down the left field line; Costanza would score from third on a groundout to put the Yellow Jackets up 2-1.
- That lead was short-lived, however, as the Penmen dropped five runs in the bottom of the fifth to jump ahead 6-2.
- In the seventh inning, AIC came within 6-3; Aviles again led off with a single and advanced to third on a single from Costanza before Krause brought Aviles home on a single to left-center.
- But SNHU added three more runs over the next two innings, and though Aviles scored on a wild pitch to come within 9-4 in the top of the ninth, AIC could mount no further of a comeback.
BUZZWORTHY:
- Pepe appeared in seven innings in the first contest, the third time this season he's had a seven-inning showing - tied for a season and career-high. He has also notched exactly five strikeouts in each of his last four starts.
- Flahive has the lowest ERA on the team with a 2.45 in 18.1 innings pitched; through nine relief appearances, he has just one showing where he has allowed more than one earned run.
- With an RBI on the day, Krause is now tied for the team lead with 18 total on the season.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets head to Albany, New York to face a divisional opponent in the College of Saint Rose on Wednesday, April 11.
- First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 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.