SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College baseball team took both games by a score of 8-1 and 6-2 in their doubleheader against the University of New Haven on Saturday, April 13.
FAST FACTS:
Game One
Score: AIC 8, New Haven 1
Records:AIC improves to 12-15 overall, 5-7 in NE10 play; New Haven moves to 11-13 overall, and 5-6 in NE10 action.
Location: Bedard Field -- Springfield, Mass.
Game Two
Score: AIC 6, New Haven 2
Records:AIC improves to 13-15 overall, 6-7 in NE10 play; New Haven falls to 11-14 overall, and 5-7 in NE10 action.
Location: Bedard Field -- Springfield, Mass.
STATS LEADERS:
Game One
AIC:
Josh Aviles: 4-for-4, one RBI one walk
Cam Defeo: 2-for-3, one run, one walk
Matthew Elliott: 1-for-3, three RBIs, one run
Joe Pepe: Win (3-3) 5.0 innings pitched, zero earned, eight strikeouts
New Haven:
Matt Chamberlain: 2-for-4, one walk
Rob Giovanelli: 1-for-3
Chris Leindecker: Loss (1-3) 6.0 innings pitched, four earned runs, six strikeouts
Game Two
AIC:
Brandon Gaul: 2-for-2, two runs
Matthew Elliott: 1-for-3, one RBI, one home run, two walks
Reed Phillips: 1-for-5, two RBIs, one home run
Joe Kemlage: Win (4-2) 7.0 innings pitched, two earned runs, 14 strikeouts
New Haven:
Matt Chamberlain: 2-for-4, one run
Rob Giovanelli: 1-for-4, two RBIs
James Myers: 1-for-3, one run
Devon DiMascio: Loss (0-6) 5.1 innings pitched, two earned runs, three strikeouts, two hits
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One
- Redshirt-junior pitcher Joe Pepe got the start for the Yellow Jackets, going five innings, and allowing just one unearned run.
- The unearned run came in the top of the fourth when the Chargers got out to a 1-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets.
- With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, senior Matthew Elliott emptied the bases with a double to center field.
- In the next inning, redshirt-junior Andrew Ciacciarelli singled to right, scoring sophomore Anthony Clark. The following at-bat, redshirt-senior Reed Phillips doubled to center to knock in two more Yellow Jackets.
- After the two-run double, junior Brendan LaVallee drove in Phillips after a sacrifice fly to right field, to give AIC an 8-1 advantage over New Haven.
- Redshirt-senior Nick Kennedy and junior James Flahive pitched two scoreless innings each to help secure game one of their doubleheader.
Game Two
- The Yellow Jackets quickly got runners on base after a walk and a hit batter in the first. Junior Matt Krause then singled to center, allowing senior Josh Aviles to score from second.
- In the bottom of the third, Elliott hit a dinger over the right field wall to make it 2-0 Yellow Jackets.
- On the mound, Sophomore Joe Kemlage was electric, striking out 14 batters in seven innings.
- Kemlage didn't allow a run until the top of the sixth inning when the Chargers knocked in two runs to tie the game.
- The Yellow Jackets quickly responded in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Brandon Gaul scored from third on a wild pitch to give AIC a 3-2 lead.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Phillips hit a massive two-run home run to give AIC a three-run advantage over New Haven. Clark later extended the lead to four after an RBI double to center.
- AIC held on to their four-run lead, defeating New Haven 6-4 to take both games and win the series.
BUZZWORTHY:
- Kemlage pitched a career-high 14 strikeouts in his game two win over New Haven.
COACH'S CORNER:
- Head Coach Nick Callini's thoughts on his team's performance, "Excited Anytime you come out with two wins and win the series in day one; you have to be happy."
- One word Callini used to describe Kemlage's game two performance, "Dominant."
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets look to sweep New Haven when they take on the Chargers tomorrow at 1 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
- For more updates about the AIC baseball team, follow@AIC_baseballonInstagram. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.
