MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team suffered a pair of nail-biting losses today during its spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. First, the Falcons fell in extra innings to Framingham State, 8-5, before dropping a heartbreaking 11-10 contest to Suffolk University. Game two featured a lengthy rain delay that resulted in the contest spanning 5:25.

THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Framingham State 8 | Albertus 5
RECORDS: Albertus (0-5) | Framingham State (1-6)
LOCATION: Ripken Experience - Polo Grounds
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED
The pitchers dominated the action early in the game, as the first run was not scored until the fourth inning. Michael Pepe (Cheshire, Conn.) cruised through the first 6.0 innings on the bump for the Falcons, allowing one base runner with four strikeouts.

Albertus opened the game's scoring in the home half of the fourth inning, taking a 2-0 lead with a home run from Matthew Silverstein (Shelton, Conn.). After a two-out single, the senior transfer blasted a ball over the left-center wall to plate Sean Jefferson (West Haven, Conn.).

In the sixth, the Falcons added to their advantage with two more runs to make it a 4-0 game. Again facing two outs, Albertus did not let the inning slip away, as Jefferson tallied a single to start the scoring effort. Silverstein got on base next with a walk before both Falcons moved up a bag after a wild pitch. Finally, Jason Sullivan (Meriden, Conn.) brought Jefferson and Silverstein home with a single to left.

Framingham broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning after back-to-back singles to begin the frame. With runners on the corners and one out, the Rams' Robert Johnston stole second after the batter struck out looking, but unfortunately for AMC, following the throw to second, Chris Iannetta broke for home and scored from third base. An RBI single in the next at-bat sent the game into the bottom of the seventh with Albertus up 4-2.

After a couple of miscues by the Rams, the Falcons got one of their runs back in their end of the seventh. Nhasean Murphy (Manchester, Conn.) singled to begin the inning before getting to third base following two consecutive wild pitches. Murphy ended up scoring on an error by the catcher to send the Falcons into the eighth ahead 5-2.

Framingham forced extra innings by hanging three runs on the board in the eighth. With two outs, the Rams strung together two RBI singles and an RBI triple in consecutive plate appearances to tie the game at 5-5.

Neither team scored in the ninth, forcing the Falcons and Rams to play a 10th inning.

Framingham started the 10th by loading the bases with one out. The Rams put two on with walks, while the third base runner was awarded first on catcher's interference. Later, a single and a wild pitch gave FSU a 7-5 advantage. Another wild pitch two batters later gave the Rams an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

The Falcons put one on base in their half of the 10th inning but could not bring any runs across, clinching an 8-5 victory for Framingham.

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Sean Letarte (W, 1-1) | LP: Matt Warren (L, 0-1)
• Silverstein paced the Falcons with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Silverstein's home run was AMC's lone extra-base hit.
• Jefferson had the lone multi-hit game for Albertus.
• Sullivan also finished with two RBIs.
• Pepe tossed 6.2 innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs in a no-decision.

NOTEWORTHY

• Silverstein tallied his first hit, home run, and RBI as a Falcon in today's game.
• Jefferson has racked up multiple hits in two games already this season.
• Jefferson leads the team with a .353 batting average.
• Sullivan tallied his second multi-RBI game of the year.
• Pepe's 6.2 innings pitched is a new career-high for the senior.

THE BASICS
FINAL (G2): Suffolk 11 | Albertus 10
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (0-6) | Suffolk (4-3)
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons hit the ground running in game two, scoring two runs before the first out. Joe Matthews (Anaheim, Calif.) started the game off with a single before Bobby Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) brought him home with a double to left. Matt Warren (Wolcott, Conn.) next singled, which led to a Silverstein single that plated Arent. Then with two outs, Ron Losacano (Old Lyme, Conn.) slapped a single to right to give Albertus a 3-0 advantage through one-half inning.

Albertus added to its lead by scoring one run in the second and third innings. Arent tallied another RBI in the second, with an RBI groundout to plate Caden Cloutier (Wallingford, Conn.) from third. Anthony Broadhurst (Stratford, Conn.) scored the next run, bringing Sullivan home from second after a one-out double.

After the Rams scored their first run in the bottom of the third inning, Albertus answered with two runs to lead off the fourth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Sullivan brought another run across with a sacrifice fly to right. A passed ball two batters later plated Warren from third to give AMC a 7-1 lead.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Suffolk bats became red hot over the next two innings, as the Rams hung 10 runs on the scoreboard to take an 11-7 advantage. Suffolk scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and seven runs in the fifth.

After the fifth, both team's pitchers settled in, as there wasn't another run scored until the ninth inning. However, in the top of the ninth, the Falcons began a comeback attempt. After a walk and back-to-back pinch-hit singles by Yandy James (Paterson, N.J.) and David Flynn (Milford, Conn.), Matthews slammed a double to right-center to bring in two runs.

The rally continued after Arent walked to load the bases again for Sullivan. With two outs, Sullivan worked a walk to plate pinch-runner Joseph Cortes (Bridgeport, Conn.) to bring the Falcons within one, 11-10. Unfortunately for Albertus, a called strike three on the next batter halted the run, giving the Rams an 11-10 victory.

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Jake Washock (W, 1-0) | LP: Jayden Cumbo (L, 0-1) | Save: Garret Roberts (Sv, 2)
• The two teams combined for 21 hits in the game, with Albertus holding a 13-8 edge.
• Matthews and Warren led Albertus with two hits apiece.
• Arent finished the game with a double, two RBIs, and two runs.
• Matthews and Sullivan also had two RBIs and one double each.
• Alex Kozlowski (Shelton, Conn.), Zack Fenn (Oakville, Conn.), Alan Stinson (Watertown, Conn.) all posted scoreless relief appearances.

NOTEWORTHY

• Matthews' double is his first of the season.
• Sullivan tallied two RBIs and one hit in both games today.
• Broadhurst's hit and RBI are the first of his career.
• Cloutier collected his first hit of the season.
• James tallied his first career hit and run scored.
• Flynn's hit was the first of his career.
• Cortes' run was his first with the team.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will continue their Spring Break slate with a doubleheader against the Green Terror of McDaniel College. The first game of the twin bill is slated for 3 p.m., while game two is slated to start at 6 p.m.