SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Kiernan Caffrey hit a walk-off home run in game one, and the offense exploded in game two to ensure the heroics were not needed as the American International College baseball team swept Adelphi University, 3-2 and 15-9, in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Richard F. Bedard Field on Friday, March 28.

AIC is now 10-8 overall and 5-1 in the NE10.

In the opener, it was a pitching duel, as neither side even managed a hit until the fourth inning when Albert Ramos singled with two outs for Adelphi. However, it was in the home half that the first key hit came, and it was for AIC as Leandro Guevara singled to lead off, followed two batters later by a triple in the right-center gap by Yeudy Ramirez.

The offenses continued to sputter, particularly the Panthers, as Vaughn O'Leary baffled the hitting. Adelphi did get two men on in the seventh with one out, but Josh Frometa came up with a strong pick at third, tagged the bag, and threw to first for the rally-killing double play.

In the home half of that inning, Aidan Streeter was hit by a pitch with two outs and lifted for Justin Oquendo, who scampered to second on a passed ball. What followed was potentially one of the wackiest plays of the year. Cole Patterson bounced to first base, and the ball was mishandled, allowing him to reach. Oquendo had advanced from second to third, but fell between third and home, and the Adelphi catcher, who had taken the ball on a throw from first, threw back to third to try to catch Oquendo. AIC's runner turned around and tried for home, and the throw back was mishandled, allowing him to score an unearned run.

That proved critical, as the Panthers finally were able to string hits together to score in the eighth. Four singles brought in two runs, although the visiting squad led multiple runners on.

In the ninth, Anderson Cuello Batista worked around a leadoff walk to sit the Panthers offense back down, and give AIC a chance for heroics. The moment did not take long; Caffrey led off the inning and hammered a pitch over the right-center fence, ending the game in dramatic fashion.

With the opening win secured, the Yellow Jackets went to work in game two. This time, Adelphi opened the scoring with a second-inning run, but AIC answered with two, as Frometa doubled and swiped third. Ramirez walked, allowing the duo to pull off a double steal to score Frometa. Two batters later, Richie Segura smacked an RBI double down the right-field line for a 2-1 AIC lead.

Adelphi tied it in the third, but AIC untied it with a big frame. Brendan Edvardsen doubled down the left field line and Sam Tanous singled for first and third. Guevara and Nick Serce hit back-to-back RBI singles, and then Ramirez capped the run with a two-run shot, his third of the year, to left-center, giving AIC a 6-2 lead.

Both teams plated a run in the fourth, as Adelphi put three hits together, but Hayden Mutz struck out the next two to limit the damage, and Patterson scored as he was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a passed ball, and came home on a failed pickoff that went awry.

AIC's lead was comfortable, but in the sixth the Panthers roared back. They landed four hits, three for extra bases, which combined with two wild pitches tied the game up.

Just as quickly, AIC untied the game. Patterson walked, and as he had two frames ago, swiped second. Edvardsen hit a single through the left side to score him. Two batters later, Guevara was hit by a pitch, pushing AIC's right fielder to third. Serce hit a fly to right to score him, and them Frometa, Ramriez, and Caffrey each put together RBI hits to push a total of five Yellow Jackets home for a 12-7 lead through six.

Not content with a five-run lead, AIC tacked on three more in the eighth. Guevara started with a leadoff home run, and Serce singled, followed by a Frometa walk. Ramirez and Caffrey each then smacked RBI singles, putting the lead at 15-7. Adelphi pushed two across in the ninth, but the scoring ended there for the AIC sweep.

O'Leary allowed just the one hit with five strikeouts in an outstanding outing, despite not earning a decision; Cuello Batista's shutout ninth earned him the win for the first game. In game two, Mutz struck out six and allowed four runs in five innings; Romel Roca earned the win with 2.1 innings of work, and Cuello Batista grabbed a save with his five-out, two punchout showing.

The Yellow Jackets and Panthers will battle again at Bedard Field in an NE10 game at noon on Saturday, March 29, and then a nonleague seven-inning game approximately 30 minutes after.