SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College baseball team fell 9-1 and 3-2 in a doubleheader against Merrimack College on Sunday, April 7.

FAST FACTS:
Game One
Score: Merrimack 9, AIC 1
Records:AIC falls to 11-13 overall, 4-6 in NE10 play; Merrimack improves to 13-12 overall, and 7-3 in NE10 action.
Location: Bedard Field Springfield, Mass.

Game Two
Score: Merrimack 3, AIC 2
Records:AIC drops to 11-14 overall, 4-7 in NE10 play; Merrimack moves to 14-12 overall, and 8-3 in NE10 action.
Location: Bedard Field -- Springfield, Mass.


STATS LEADERS:
Game One:
AIC
Josh Aviles: 2-for-4
Cam Defeo: 1-for-1, one run, one walk
Brendan Lavallee: 1-for-3

Merrimack
Matthew Ronai: 3-for-5, two RBIs, one run
Nick Shumski: 1-for-4, two RBIs, one run
Kurtis Stadnicki: 1-for-4, two RBIs, one run
Vin Zappulla: Win (4-1) 6.0 innings pitched, one earned, six strikeouts

Game Two:
AIC
Matt Costanza: 3-for-3, one RBI, one run
Cam Defeo: 1-for-3, one run, one walk
Andrew Ciacciarelli: 1-for-4
Matt Costanza: Loss (1-2) 8.0 innings pitched, two earned, three strikeouts

Merrimack
Joey Porricelli: 3-for-4, two runs
William Keegan: 1-for-4, one RBI, one run
Timmy Kalantakos: Win (4-1) 8.0 innings pitched, one earned, eight strikeouts
Riley Sorenson: Save (4) 1.0 inning pitched, no hits, one strikeout

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One:

• After going scoreless in the first two innings, Merrimack knocked in six runs in the bottom of the third on three hits and two Yellow Jacket errors.
• In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors added on another run after a groundball to the first base side, allowing a Merrimack baserunner to score from third, 7-0.
• Freshman Cam Defeo knocked in the first run in the top of the sixth, scoring redshirt-junior Andrew Ciacciarelli off a sacrifice to the shortstop.
• The Warriors piled on two more runs in the bottom half of the sixth and eventually defeated AIC 9-1 in game one.

Game Two:

• In the top of the first inning, redshirt-senior Reed Phillips reached first on an error, allowing junior Matt Costanza to score from third.
• Costanza got the start for game two. After his first two batters reached on a double to left center and a fielding error, Costanza retired his next two batters, before giving up a single to score the Warriors first run, 1-1.
• Both teams were scoreless in the next five innings before Merrimack took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
• Costanza made up for it in the top of the seventh, connecting on a double to the gap to score Defeo.
• Merrimack regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 3-2.
• The Yellow Jackets couldn't figure out a way to tie the game, falling 3-2 in game two to the Warriors.

BUZZWORTHY:

• Despite the 3-2 loss in game two, Costanza went eight innings strong with just two earned runs on the mound. At the plate, he was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and a pair of singles.

COACH'S CORNER:

• Head Coach Nick Callini's thoughts on Costanza's performance this week, "Great. He's somebody that we've been trying to get going offensively. We've made a small adjustment to him becoming a starter instead of using him as a closer. We just really felt like we needed to get him on the mound and couldn't have him sit and not pitch, he's too valuable to us and I think you see that in the two starts that he made this week."

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets will look to avoid the sweep as they take on Merrimack College on Thursday, April 11 at 3:30 p.m. on Bedard Field.

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.