CLINCHED! Baseball takes series from Assumption, locks in NE10 Tournament berth
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College baseball team hit its way into the 2023 Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, sweeping Assumption University 8-6 and 11-9 in a doubleheader on Monday, May 1.
AIC is now 21-20 on the season with a mark of 12-8 in the NE10.
There was no lack of offense on the day, and it started quickly when Brendan Edvardsen launched the first pitch of the home half of the first inning over the left field fence. Assumption countered in the second when Eric Preston hit a home run to nearly the same spot.
In the bottom of the second, Yeudy Ramirez drilled a line drive to the base of the wall in right center, sparking a two-out rally. Ryan Lavelle walked, and then Edvardsen singled to left to score Ramirez, taking second on the throw to third that failed to get Lavelle. That allowed Josh Frometa a chance at two RBI and he delivered, singling to left to put AIC up 4-1.
In the third, the offense continued. Kevin Cox and Jack Barry both hit solo shots to left for Assumption, but singles by Tyler Ziemak and Michael Cruz set the stage for Ramirez, who singled into the gap in right center; Ziemak scored, and the throw home was so wild that it allowed Cruz to get home as well.
In the sixth, AIC added two runs that proved critical. Kiernan Caffrey walked, and Jackson Haker came to the dish next. He hit the longest shot of the day, a laser over the center field wall that easily traveled 425 feet and put AIC up 8-3. The Greyhounds hit two more home runs of their own in the seventh to pare the lead to 8-6, but Anderson Cuello Batista came in and slammed the door with a three-out save to secure the win.
Adrian Quinonez, AIC's starting pitcher, surrendered the three solo home runs, but was otherwise masterful; those were the only hits he allowed across six innings, and he more than doubled his career high, fanning 11 batters.
In game two, the Greyhounds jumped on AIC, loading the bases with no outs and ultimately scoring three runs before recording an out. They reloaded the bags with one out, but Ramirez made a nice snag on a hard-hit ball up the middle to start a 6-3 double play.
In the home half, Frometa and Caffrey reached, and Brandon Gaul singled to drive Frometa home, cutting into the lead. Frometa and Caffrey then combined for AIC's second run in the third frame, with a double and a single, respectively.
In the fourth, the Greyhounds reextended their advantage with one swing of the bat. A pair of doubles sent Barry to the plate with two on and one out, and he hit one out to center that carried over the wall. However, AIC negated those runs just as quickly. Chad Lavelle walked and Ramirez singled. Edvardsen then walked to load the bases, and Frometa hit a two run single that Caffrey followed with an RBI double, although Frometa was thrown out at the dish trying to score from first.
In the fifth, the wheels fell off for Assumption. Gaul hit a leadoff single that the center fielder mishandled, allowing him to take an extra base. That then meant the only play on Richie Segura's grounder to short was a throw to first, and the throw was off line, allowing AIC runners on the corners. Gaul came home and Segura advanced on a wild pitch, and then Chad Lavelle singled to score Segura before stealing second himself. Ramirez then reached on another error at ttird, and Ryan Lavelle singled to drive his brother home. Edvardsen hit into a double play, but Ryan Lavelle scampered home as the stunned visitors traded a run for two outs and found themselves down 9-6.
Assumption might have folded after that disaster, but instead bounced back. Owen Podolec and Eric Acosta singled and doubled respectively to start off the sixth with a quick run, and Chris Rabias drove in Acosta with a single three batters later. In the seventh, the Greyhounds tied the game as Eric Giarnese hit a home run to center.
Down to the wire, AIC found a way. In the eighth, Edvardsen was hit by a curveball to start the inning. Frometa singled, and so did Caffrey, scoring Edvardsen. Two batters later, Gaul's single to center drove in Caffrey, giving AIC a two-run cushion.
The Yellow Jackets turned to Cuello Batista again, and the young reliever delivered, working around a leadoff single to get three quick outs and secure his second save and his team's second win of the afternoon.
The victory ensured that AIC can finish no worse than fourth in the NE10's Northeast Division, thus clinching a playoff berth. It also put AIC at 21 wins in a season for the first time since 2013.
The Yellow Jackets next NE10 series is its final one in the 2023 regular season, a four-game set at Franklin Pierce University beginning Friday, May 5.