Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Albertus Magnus College baseball team swept a doubleheader against Alfred State on Tuesday in the Cal Ripken Experience at Griffith Stadium. The Falcons took the opener, 11-9, and scored a 10-9 walk-off triumph in the nightcap.
Albertus Magnus snapped a four-game skid to improve to 2-4 on the year with the two victories, while the Pioneers dropped to 0-8 overall with the losses.
In the opener, AMC jumped out to an early edge with a four-run outburst in the top of the first inning and added six more runs in the third. Falcon senior infielder Justin Poirier (Meriden, Conn.) opened the scoring with a two-run single and classmates Mike Saia (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Steven Lockman (Wallingford, Conn.) followed with run-scoring hits as well.
Albertus Magnus blew the game open in the third, highlighted by Poirier smacking a two-run double and freshman Robert Perazzella (Wolcott, Conn.) knocking a triple that scored two runs. Also in the frame, senior Jordan Kubilus (Cheshire, Conn.) and freshman Tyriq Harris (Waterbury, Conn.) both had RBI singles to stretch the Falcon lead.
Down the stretch, AMC held off a late Pioneer rally to escape with the victory. In the home half of the seventh, Alfred State scored seven runs. With the tying run at the plate, Albertus Magnus freshman hurlder Malachi Emond (Coventry, Conn.) induced a game ending groundout to first to close it out. On the bump, junior Jon Criscio (East Haven, Conn.) worked the first six and two thirds innings to earn the victory. Criscio scattered six hits and struck out eight batters.
At the dish in game one, Poirier led the offensive charge for Albertus Magnus with three hits and five RBIs. Harris, Lockman and senior Tyler Robertson (Cheshire, Conn.) all registered multi-hit games for the Falcons as well.
In the second game, the Falcons erased two different two-run deficits and scored a walk-off win as senior catcher Ted Gravel (Morris, Conn.) hit a single that plated the game-winning run to cap his monster game.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Gravel hit a single to left field that brought Poirer racing home to complete the sweep for the Falcons.
Offensively, Gravel went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs. In the third inning, he hit a three-run homer to give AMC their first lead of the game. Poirier had another strong game for Albertus Magnus, registering three hits and three RBIs.
On the mound, Falcon senior reliever Dan Zarnik (Hamden, Conn.) tossed the final three innings to earn the win.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Wednesday, March 16, with a single contest against Division II foe Benedict College at 3:00 pm.
For the latest information on the baseball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.