WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Adriel Espada (Bridgeport, Conn.) had six hits, drove in five runs and scored four times as the Albertus Magnus College baseball team had one of its best offensive output in program history in a 23-11 win over New England College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game at Quigley Field.

Elijah Spataj (Cheshire, Conn.) went 3-for-6 with 6 RBI, including a home run. Shawn Smith (Shelton, Conn.) went 4-for-6 with two runs, and Troy Piascik (East Haven, Conn.) went 4-for-7 with three runs and an RBI.

The Falcons finished with 23 hits and scored the most runs in a GNAC game since scoring 24 in a win over Southern Vermont in 2005.

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 23 | New England College 11

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (4-14, 3-6 GNAC) | New England College (4-17, 2-2 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons struck first in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from Smith, but the Pilgrims answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning and scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead, which included a two-run double from Brady Phillibotte.
• However, the Falcons erupted for nine runs in the top of the fifth as they sent 13 batters to the plate. Espada opened the inning with a double before Anthony Abate (Naugatuck, Conn.) was hit by a pitch. With just one swing,  Spataj drove a pitch over the left field wall to tie the game. The offense continued to pour it on, as singles by Smith and Piascik and a walk to Vance Ward (Norwalk, Conn.) loaded the bases for a bases-clearing double from Bobby Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) to give Albertus a 7-4 lead.
• Espada then hit an RBI single and Spataj batted for the second time and drove in two on a double. Spataj had five RBi in the inning.
• In the sixth inning, Eric Galarza (Bridgeport, Conn.), Piascik and Ward all singled to start the inning. With one out in the inning, Harger was hit by a pitch to make it an 11-4 game. After a sacrifice fly from Espada, Abate drove in two with a two-run double to go up 14-4.
• The Pilgrims got to within 14-7 after the sixth that included a two-run triple by Phillibotte. But in the top of the seventh, the Falcons scored five more times as Tyler Harger (North Haven, Conn.) and Espada each hit two-run doubles to put Albertus up 19-7. 
• Albertus tacked on four more insurance runs in the top of the ninth as Espada hit an RBI single.

ON THE MOUND

Albertus

• Riley Corgan (New Milford, Conn.) (W, 1-1) 6 IP | 7 Runs | 4 ER | 6 Hits | 3 BB | 2 K
• Aaron McIntyre (East Haven, Conn.) (Save, 1) 3 IP | 4 Runs | 2 ER | 5 Hits | 0 BB | 2 K

NEC

• Austin Hazzard (L, 2-4) 4.1 IP | 9 Runs | 9 ER | 10 Hits | 2 BB | 3 K
• Stephen Dunham 1.1 IP | 5 Runs | 5 ER | 6 Hits | 0 BB | 2 K
• Brendan Hill 0.2 IP | 5 Runs | 4 ER | 3 Hits | 1 BB | 1 K
• Christopher Chagnon 1.2 IP | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 0 BB | 0 K
• Brody McNair 1.0 IP | 4 Runs | 1 ER | 2 Hits | 1 BB | 1 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

• Adriel Espada 6-for-6 | 5 RBI | 4 Runs | 2 2B
• Elijah Spataj 3-for-6 | 6 RBI | 1 Run | 1 HR
• Shawn Smith 4-for-6 | 1 RBI | 2 Runs
• Tyler Harger 3-for-4 | 4 Runs | 3 RBI | 1 2B
• Bobby Arent 1-for-3 | 3 Runs | 3 RBI | 3 BB

NEC

• Brady Philbotte 3-for-6 | 6 RBI | 2 Runs | 1 2B | 1 3B | 1 HR
• Cooper Ribaudo 4-for-5 | 3 Runs

NOTEWORTHY

• It was the first win over NEC in program history.
• Espada set a career-high in hits, runs and RBI in a game. He is currently the GNAC leader in batting average at .406.
• Spataj is now tied for first in the GNAC with five home runs and tied for fourth with 22 RBI.
• Piascik's four hits were a career-high and the first multi-hit game in his career.

UP NEXT

Albertus will host Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) in a single game on Wednesday, April 10 at 3:30 p.m.