Bentley snaps baseball's streak in nonconference game

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College baseball team dropped a 12-5 decision to Bentley University on Wednesday, April 19, snapping a nine-game winning stretch.

AIC is now 15-17 overall; the team remains 6-6 in Northeast-10 Conference play, as the contest was an extra game and not part of the league schedule.

The Falcons scored in the first inning on a double by Liam Sears, and added a pair of runs in the second to take a 3-0 lead. AIC countered in the home half of the second, as Michael Cruz doubled in Jackson Haker and Kyle Leifert was driven home on a hit by Ryan Lavelle; Cruz was thrown out at home on that play trying to tie the game.

In the third, Bentley scored two unearned runs, and added to its lead with a run in the fifth and three in the seventh.

AIC scored three in the seventh to climb back into the game. With the bases loaded, Haker ripped a shot off of the third baseman to push Lavelle home. Leifert then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Brendan Edvardsen, and Cruz drove a single up the middle to score Josh Frometa. However, the Yellow Jackets could not score again and Bentley took the win.

AIC returns to conference play on Friday, April 21 with a doubleheader against Saint Anselm beginning at noon at Bedard Field; the teams will play two on Friday instead of the originally scheduled single game as Sunday's contest has been moved due to rain in the forecast.