HAMDEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team suffered a 16-5 setback to the Knights of Mt. St. Mary's (N.Y.) on Wednesday eveing in a home non-conference match-up.
Freshman Khamari Dunlap (Nashville, Tenn.) led the way for the Falcons on offense, going 2-for-3 with his first two collegiate home runs, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Fellow rookie Yandy James (Paterson, N.J.) also had a good day at the plate for the blue-and-white, going 2-for-4 with his first career home run, a run scored, and an RBI.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Mt. St. Mary's (N.Y.) 16 | Albertus Magnus 5
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (2-17) | Mt. St. Mary's (N.Y.) (10-14)
LOCATION: Rochford Field
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Knights came out of the gates hot to start the game, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning off Falcons' starter, Jayden Cumbo (Plainville, Conn.). The Knights reeled off three straight hits before Cumbo locked in and retired the next three hitters to neutralize the threat.
The Falcons retaliated quickly, as James led off the bottom of the first inning with a blast over the left-field wall to cut the deficit to two, 3-1, but Knights' starter Michael Di Tullio settled in and forced a strikeout and back-to-back fly outs to center field to end the inning.
Mt. St. Mary's carried its offensive momentum into the second, as the visitors recorded another three-run frame to increase their lead to five, 6-1. However, solid pitching from the Knights' in the bottom half of the inning kept the Falcons at bay, sending the game into the top of the third.
The Falcons' bullpen could not stop the Knights from scoring an additional four runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to take a commanding 12-1 lead.
Albertus broke through offensively in the bottom of the fifth as the Falcons put runners on first and second, following a hit-by-pitch by Joseph Cortes (Bridgeport, Conn.) and a single through the right side from Kyle Hensel (Wolcott, Conn.). Dunlap kept the momentum going for the Falcons by hitting his first career home run over the left-field fence to clear the bases and bring the score to 12-4. However, a pop-up to first ended the inning and sent both teams back to the dugouts.
In the top of the sixth, the Knights capitalized on a pitching change for the Falcons and recorded another three-run inning, pushing their advantage back to 11, 15-4.
Mt. St. Mary didn't let up offensively, scoring a solo run in the top of the seventh to make it a 16-4 ball game at Rochford Field.
After a scoreless inning for Albertus in the bottom of the seventh, Dunlap gave the hosts and fans some excitement in the eighth by recording his second home run of the game. Down 16-5, James kept things going with a single to left field before finding himself on second following a wild pitch. Adrian Rivera-Silva (Hamden, Conn.) continued the Falcons' strong run with a deep single to left field, but an impressive throw from the Knights' outfielder nailed James at home for the third and final out of the frame.
The Knights put two runners on in the ninth inning, but Hensel struck out Joe Laudati to neutralize the threat and send the teams into the bottom of the ninth inning.
David Flynn (Milford, Conn.) reached an error to start the ninth and moved to second on a passed ball from the Knights. Unfortunately for the Falcons, Knights' reliever Robert Brust retired the next three hitters to seal the victory for the visitors.
TOP PERFORMERS
- WP: Michael D. Tullio (W, 1-0) - 2.0 Innings | 1 Hit | 1 Runs | 0 Walks | 4 Strikeouts
- LP: Jayden Cumbo (L, 0-2) - 2.2 Innings | 11 Hits | 10 Runs | 1 Walk | 4 Strikeouts
- Dunlap was 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
- James was 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored.
- Hensel pitched three innings of one-run baseball with five strikeouts.
NOTEWORTHY
- Albertus is 7-11 all-time against the Knights following tonight's loss.
- In tonight's contest, the Falcons' pitching staff struck out a season-high 16 batters.
- Dunlap hit his first career home run tonight.
- Dunlap also recorded a season-high four RBIs in the contest.
- The last Falcon to hit two home runs in a game was Christian Bradley, who did so on March 17, 2018, against Wells College.
- James also hit his first career home run tonight.
- Hensel recorded his first career strikeout in tonight's game and struck out five batters in his collegiate debut on the mound.
- Smith struck out a season-high five batters in tonight's contest.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to the diamond tomorrow for a home conference doubleheader against the Raiders of Rivier University. Game times are set for 1 PM and 3:30 PM at Rochford Field in Hamden, Conn.
