Ninth Inning Rally Leads Bentley to 11-8 Win Over AIC
Walthom, Mass. - Despite holding a one run edge in the
ninth innings the American International College baseball team
dropped an 11-8 decision to the Bentley Falcons in a Northeast-10
match-up Thursday afternoon at DeFelice Field. The win drops the
Yellow Jackets 2-7 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast-10 while the
win propels the Falcons to 6-11 overall and 1-1 in the
Northeast-10.
AIC won a 3-2 contest earlier this week against the Falcons, but dropped a slugfest 11-8 Thursday afternoon. Uchon Yi (Windsor Locks, Conn.) started the game for the Yellow Jackets going five and a third innings, surrendering five runs and nine hits.
AIC grabbed the contests first run in the bottom of the first inning when David Dest (Orange, Conn.) tripled home Jeff Rustico (Plantsville, Conn.) who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
Bentley took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the fourth when James Roche singled home Kevin Vona before Joe Dorr smacked a triple that helped Roche cross the plate as well.
Bentley added three more runs in the top half of the fifth and sixth inning and AIC scored once in the bottom of the sixth before the Yellow Jackets charged ahead with a five run seventh taking a 7-6 lead. Bentley tied the game in the eighth and AIC again took the lead, grabbing an 8-7 advantage heading into the top of the ninth.
In the ninth, Dorr earned a pass to first via a walk and eventually stole second. He tied the game after Mike DeCoste doubled to left center field. Charlie Pagliarulo reached on a throwing error helping Decoste move over to third base. With runners on the corner Ross Curley singled through the left side, giving Bentley a 9-8 lead. The Falcons tacked on two more scores before being retired, lifting them to an 11-8 advantage.
In AIC's half of the ninth, Tom Cadren who pitched three innings, shut the door, helping propel Bentley to the win.
Dest led the way for the Yellow Jacket bats going 3-5 at the plate with four RBIs. Dan Mooney (Bennington, VT.) also knocked home a pair of RBIs at the plate.
AIC will host Stonehill Saturday at 1:00 pm.