HAMDEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team extended its winning streak to three straight following tonight's non-conference doubleheader sweep against the Panthers of SUNY Purchase under the lights at Rochford Field.

The Falcons battled back to take game one from the Panthers, 12-9, before winning the nightcap by a final score of 8-4. Freshman Shawn Smith (Shelton, Conn.) led the Falcons on offense in the doubleheader, going 5-for-6 with three home runs and five RBIs.  

THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Albertus Magnus 12 | SUNY Purchase 9
FINAL (G2): Albertus Magnus 8 | SUNY Purchase 4
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (7-18) | SUNY Purchase (10-16)
LOCATION: Rochford Field

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1

Purchase struck first in game one scoring two quick runs off an RBI single to centerfield from Christian Homa and a sacrifice fly from James May to take the early lead over the Falcons. 

After stranding a runner on base in the top of the second, Purchase picked up the intensity as the visitors recorded a three-run inning to extend its lead to five, 5-0. The Panthers' first run of the inning came off of an RBI double from Mason Compton, while the two of their runs were scored off of a wild pitch and a throwing error. 

Following back-to-back scoreless innings, Albertus began to show some life at the plate in the bottom half of the third, starting off the stanza with back-to-back singles from Smith and Nhasean Murphy (Manchester, Conn.). With no outs, Adrian Rivera-Silva (Hamden, Conn.) worked a walk to bring up the top of the order, Ron Losacano (Old Lyme, Conn.), who doubled to deep right-center and allowed Smith and Murphy to cross home for a pair of runs, 5-2. However, a fly-out to left and back-to-back strikeouts from the Falcons stranded runners on second and third. 

Despite a pitching change for the Falcons in the top of the fourth, Purchase continued to rack up the runs and scored another three to increase its lead to six, 8-2. 

Albertus countered the Panthers' three-run inning with a one-run inning in the bottom half of the fourth and cut the deficit to within five, 8-3. With two outs and Alex Kozlowski (Shelton, Conn.) on second, Murphy struck again at the plate, recording his first double of the game that allowed Kozlowski to score before the final out was collected. 

In the home half of the fifth, the Falcons continued to battle at the plate as the blue-and-white had runners on first and second for Jason Sullivan (Meriden, Conn.), who worked a walk, for a bases-loaded situation with one out. Sean Jefferson (West Haven, Conn.) kept the momentum going as the left-fielder hit a deep ball to center field for the two-run RBI single, forcing Purchase to go to its bullpen for relief. With one out and a new relief pitcher on the mound, Albertus remained in the zone scoring three quick runs behind a sacrifice fly from Kozlowski and a  two-run homer from Smith to even the game at 8-all. Following a pair of errors and a hit-by-pitch, Albertus had runners on second and third, but a fly out to center ended the rally.

Another pitching change for the Falcons in the top of the sixth didn't phase the Panthers as the visitors regained the lead, 9-8, following a one-out, RBI single from Homa.

Albertus answered back in the home half of the inning by loading the bases, despite one out on the board, for Kozlowski, who battled during his at-bat and came up on top with an RBI groundout that drove in the tying run from third. On the same play, Albertus was able to clear the bases and score an additional two runs following a throwing error by the first baseman. Up by two, 11-9, Albertus' Smith struck again by recording his second straight home run of the game and giving the Falcons' a three-run cushion heading into the top of the seventh, 12-9.

Solid relief pitching from Alan Stinson (Watertown, Conn.) in the top of the seventh kept the Panthers at bay as the left-hander earned his first save of the season after recording a 1-2-3 inning.

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Caden Cloutier (Wallingford, Conn.) (W, 1-0) - 1.0 Innings | 1 Hit | 1 Run | 1 Walk |1 Strikeout
• LP: Drew Stabinsky (L, 0-2) - 0.2 Innings | 1Hit | 3 Runs | 3 Walks | 0 Strikeouts
• Matthew Silverstein (Shelton, Conn.) made his sixth start for the blue-and-white in game one. 
• Kyle Hensel (Wolcott, Conn.) also made an appearance on the mound for the Falcons.
• Hensel pitched 2.0 innings with five hits, three runs, and a strikeout.
• Smith's two home runs were a game-high for the rookie.
• Smith also finished with a team-leading three hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
• Losacano and Murphy also added two hits each, while Losacano added two RBIs to his stat line.

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2 

Albertus came out to play in game two as the Falcons opened the nightcap with the early two-run advantage behind a sacrifice bunt from Yandy James (Paterson, N.J.) and a ground-rule triple from Sullivan.

Shortly after, Purchase evened the game, 2-2, in the top of the third following a two-run, two-hit inning that was highlighted by a home run to left field from May.  

However, in the home half of the inning, Albertus rallied at the plate as James started off the inning reaching first on a throwing error by the third baseman followed by a strikeout from Warren. Despite the out, Sullivan picked up the momentum with a single to centerfield, advancing James to third before Jefferson cleared the bases with an RBI double to right field. Up by two, 4-2, Albertus was unable to score any more runs as Nick Ramos (Mineola, N.Y.) struck out looking and Jefferson was picked off at second for the final outs of the inning. 

Trailing by a pair, the Panthers came out for vengeance in the top of the fifth facing Falcons' reliever Matt Warren (Wolcott, Conn.) and capitalizing on three straight errors to load the bases with one out. A walk from Trevor Zanderzuk drove the visitors' lone run of the inning before a double play ended the threat and stranded two runners on base.

Albertus countered the solo run in the top of the fifth with four runs on four hits and a Panther error to take a commanding five-run lead, 8-3. James started off the inning with a hit-by-pitch before a fielder choice by Warren got James out at second for the first out of the inning. Sullivan followed up with a single to center field, putting runners on first and second for Sullivan, who cleared the bases on a two-run double to center field. With two outs and Jefferson on third, Smith found his pitch and sent the ball over the left-field fence for his third home run of the day. Purchase immediately went to its bullpen for relief as the blue-and-white continued to swing away as Kozlowski found himself on third following a single, an error, and a passed ball. However, a fly out to left field stranded Kozlowski on third and sent both teams to their designated dugouts.

In their final at-bat, the Panthers remained vigilant at the plate scoring one run, but Kozlowski slammed the door on the rally to preserve the 8-4 Falcons' victory. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Jayden Cumbo(Plainville, Conn.) (W, 1-2) - 4.0 Innings | 5 Hits | 2 Run | 3 Walks | 4 Strikeouts
• LP: Justin Doskoez (L, 2-2) - 4.2 Innings | 9 Hits | 8 Runs | 2 Walks | 5 Strikeouts
• Cumbo made his second start on the mound for the Falcons. 
• Warren recorded his second appearance on the mound. 
• Sullivan, Jefferson, and S. Smith each recorded multi-hit games for the Falcons.
• Sullivan posted a season-high three hits in game two. 
• Jefferson tied his season-high with four RBIs.  

 NOTEWORTHY

• The Falcons are 6-3 all-time against the Panthers. 
• S. Smith had a season-high three home runs in the doubleheader. 
• S. Smith now leads the team in home runs with five, while Jefferson is right behind him with four home runs. 
• Cumbo threw a season-high four innings and tied his season-high in strikeouts with four.
• Jefferson is currently batting .500 (9-for-18) over his last six games, with three doubles, a triple, and two home runs. 

UP NEXT

The Falcons return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 20 with a home non-conference game against Western Connecticut State University. Game time is set for 4 PM at Rochford Field.