A two-run home run in the sixth inning gave Anna Maria the go ahead as the AMCats eventually took the first game of the GNAC double-header 5-3 over the Albertus Magnus baseball team. John Sullivan recorded his first home run of the season with a two-run blast as he broke open a tied ballgame.
With the loss, the Falcons moved to 12-19 on the year and 6-7 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. Anna Maria improved to 19-12 with the win, while the AMCats won their 10th game in league action.
Albertus was led in game one by Joseph Martinez (Bronx, N.Y.) who finished the contest 2-for-3 with a run scored. In the last four games for Albertus, Martinez is batting 5-for-8 with four runs and two RBI. He has also stolen two bases, walked twice and has been hit by a pitch once.
The Falcons scored the first run of the day as Jon Almonte (New York, N.Y.) crossed the plate during a run down between first and second to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. For Almonte, it was his 11th run scored this season.
Anna Maria tallied three runs in the fourth as two wild pitches by Falcon starter Mike Barillaro (Meriden, Conn.) plated three AMCats runners.
Albertus tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth as three-consecutive hits loaded the bases for the Falcons. After the first out was recorded, a fielder's choice by Patrick Dornfried (Berlin, Conn.) plated the Falcons' second run of the ballgame. Martinez was then able to score and tie the game on a wild pitch thrown by the AMCats' Justin Hyland.
Anna Maria took back the lead in the top of the sixth as Sullivan took a 3-2 pitch and sent it over the left field fence for his first home run of the year as he gave his team a 5-3 advantage.
Senior Tim Henderson came into the game for the final two innings as he faced seven batters and struck out one in his third save of the season. Hyland earned the win for the AMCats as he improved to 5-1 on the year.
Barillaro dropped to 1-5 overall with the loss as he allowed five runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
Zak Sokolis (Meriden, Conn.) added a 2-for-3 showing for the Falcons, while Almonte finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
