MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team dropped a tough contest to the University of Scranton baseball squad on Tuesday morning, falling by a final score of 10-4 at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Ron Losacano (Old Lyme, Conn.) led the Falcons on offense, going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Scranton 10 | Albertus 4
MEETING: This is the 1st-ever meeting between the Falcons and the Royals.
RECORDS: Albertus (0-4) | Scranton (7-1-1)
LOCATION: Ripken Experience - Griffith Field
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons took the early lead in the top of the first inning against Scranton hurler Thomas Plunkett. Matt Warren (Wolcott, Conn.) smacked a two-out double into the right-field gap before Sean Jefferson (West Haven, Conn.) followed up with his own double to plate Warren from second. Plunkett quickly slammed the door on the Falcons, inducing a fly-out to center field to end the inning.
The Royals answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame off Albertus starter Angel Lugo Vazquez (New Haven, Conn.). A hit-by-pitch, a single, and a triple quickly plated two runs for the Royals. However, Vaquez wiggled out of the jam by retiring the last two hitters he faced, and the teams transitioned into the second inning, with the Falcons trailing 2-1.
In the second inning, Vasquez held the Royals scoreless with a trio of groundouts before being tagged for a pair of unearned runs in the third to make it a 4-1 game. Vazquez responded with a clean three-up, three-down fourth inning to keep the deficit at three.
The Falcons loaded the bases with nobody out to start the fifth. A Royals' throwing error allowed Alex Kozlowski (Shelton, Conn.) to reach safely before Anthony Broadhurst (Stratford, Conn.) and Nhasean Murphy (Manchester, Conn.) worked back-to-back walks. A passed ball scored Kozlowski from third and advanced Broadhurst and Murphy. However, the surge was short-lived as Scranton reliever Kevin Keil retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
Scranton responded with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fifth to push its lead to 5-2. However, the Falcons couldn't answer, as Keil held the blue-and-white scoreless over the sixth and seventh innings.
Alan Stinson (Watertown, Conn.) held the Royals scoreless in the sixth before being tagged for a run in the seventh to make it a 6-2 game.
The Royals continued to press their advantage, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 10-2 contest.
The Falcons did not go quietly in the top of the ninth. Matt Silverstein (Shelton, Conn.) led off the frame with a walk before a wild pitch pushed the runner to second. Losacano lasered a single up the middle to plate the run before Kozlowski slashed a single and sent Losacano to third. A Broadhurst groundout scored Losacano from third before George Sengos ended the rally with a strikeout to conclude the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
- WP: Kevin Keil (W, 1-0) | LP: Angel Lugo Vasquez (L, 0-1)
- Sean Jefferson: 1-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 RBI | 1 Walk |
- Ron Losacano: 1-for-4 | 1 Run | 1 RBI | 1 Walk
- Corey Zientek: 3-for-5 | 2 Runs | 2 RBI's
- Aidan Plick: 2-for-4 | 2 RBI's
NOTEWORTHY
- Jefferson has hits in three of his last four games.
- Today was Vasquez's first career start on the mound.
- Khamari Dunlap (Nashville, Tenn.) scored his first career run in the ninth.
- Losacano raked his first RBI of the young season.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15th, for a doubleheader. Game one features a clash with the Framingham State Rams, and game two will see the Falcons compete against ex-conference opponent Suffolk University. Game one is slated for a noon start, while game two will be at 3:30 PM. Both games are scheduled at the Polo Grounds at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C.