NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team held the lead over No. 21 nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University through five innings on Wednesday afternoon, but the Warriors rallied to earn a 14-7 non-conference victory.

THE BASICS
FINAL: #21 Eastern Conn. St. 14 | Albertus Magnus 7
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (3-12) | #21 Eastern Conn. St. (22-4)
MEETING: This is the 13th meeting between the Falcons and Warriors.
ALL-TIME RECORD: Eastern Conn. St. leads the Falcons all-time with an overall record of 13-0.
LOCATION: Rochford Field
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED
Albertus jumped out to an early two-run lead behind an RBI single to right-field from Alex Kozlowski (Shelton, Conn.). With the bases loaded on three hit-by-pitches, Kozlowski smacked a two-out single to right field to plate both Brandon Clark (Cheshire, Conn.) and Joseph Matthews (Anaheim, Calif.). However, a strikeout from Ty Netto (Derby, Conn.) ended the inning and stranded a runner on third.

The Warriors broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of a close play at first to cut the score to 2-1. With runners on first and second, Kevin Murphy hit a grounder to third that Jason Sullivan (Meriden, Conn.) fired to first, coming millimeters short of an out in a bang-bang play. Ryan Bagdasarian rocketed home from second for the visitors' score.

On the pitching mound, Shawn McFeggan (Anaheim, Cal.) was unfazed by the run, as he ended the fourth with a fly-out in the next at-bat. McFeggan and Jay Palais (Farmington, Conn.) combined to allow just one run on seven hits through the first four innings.

East Conn took the lead in the top of the sixth, putting three runs on the board to go ahead 4-2. Jason Claiborn tallied two RBIs with a double to left-center, while the third run was recorded on a sac-fly by John Mesagno.

The Warriors took a commanding 10-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning with six runs in the frame.

Albertus answered in the bottom half of the seventh when Clark blasted a three-run bomb over the center-field fence for his 99th-career hit. Sullivan added to the inning with an RBI single to right to plate Warren to cut the Falcons' deficit to four runs, 10-6.

East Conn added three more insurance runs in the top of the eighth on a three-run homer by catcher Matt Malcom. The Warriors earned one more run in the ninth to take a 14-6 advantage in the final half-inning.

The Falcons added one more run to their tally in the bottom of the ninth to cut the score to 14-7. With a runner on, Warren powered a double to right to put runners on second and third. A wild pitch in the next at-bat brought Clark home from third for his third run of the evening.

Despite adding a run, Albertus could not finish the comeback, falling at home to the nationally-ranked foe.

TOP PERFORMERS:
• WP: John Parker (2-1) | LP: Ike Flannery (1-2)
• Clark finished his impressive day with three RBIs, three runs scored, and his third homer of the season.
• Clark is now one hit shy of 100 in his illustrious career.
• Matthews and Warren each tied for the team lead in hits with two apiece.
• Both of Warren's hits were doubles.
• The Warriors were led by leadoff man Claiborn, who tallied four hits, two RBIs, and two runs.