WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Albertus Magnus Baseball team picked up its first win of the season in a big way in a 19-7 drubbing of Gwynedd Mercy on Wednesday afternoon.

Adriel Espada (Bridgeport, Conn.) was 4-for-7 with three runs, two RBI and three stolen bases. Elijah Spataj (Cheshire, Conn.) hit his first homer of the season and drove in three runs.

Eddy Garabito (Norwalk, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Gio Morales (Manchester, Conn.) drove in four runs and scored a run and Anthony Abate (Naugatuck, Conn.) went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run.

Nathan Rivera (Windsor, Conn.) earned his first win, pitching 3.1 innings of relief, striking out six.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 19 | Gwynedd Mercy 7

RECORDS: Albertus (1-4) | Gwynedd Mercy (5-7)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Albertus got out the gates fast, scoring three runs in the first inning as Vance Ward (Norwalk, Conn.) and Espada hit back-to-back singles to open the game. Eric Galarza (Bridgeport, Conn.) reached on an error in the outfield that scored Ward and Garabito followed two batters later with a two-run double to put the Falcons up, 3-0.
• The Griffins got one back in the bottom of the inning, making it a 3-1 game.
• Both teams exchanged runs in the third inning before the Falcons scored two more in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. Ward and Espada both reached base to lead off the inning. Spataj then drove in Ward on a fielders choice and Nick Ramos (Mineola, N.Y.) drew a bases loaded walk.
• With the Falcons leading 7-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Griffins scored three in the inning, capped by a two-run single by Jimmy DeCarlo that tied the game, 7-7.
• The tie did not last long as the Falcons scored three in the top of the eighth. With the baes loaded and two outs in the inning, Morales ripped a ball to center field that scored Shawn Smith (Shelton, Conn.) and Galarza who were both hit by pitches earlier in the inning. Abate followed with an RBI singl of his own to make it a 10-7 game.
• Albertus piled on the runs in the top of the ninth, all coming with two outs. Espada and Galarza singled earlier in the inning, and Garabito, Ramos and Morales all drew walks to score a run and Abate followed with a two-run single making it a 14-7 game. He'd then score on a wild pitch. Later in the inning Espada hit a two-run double and Spataj capped the big inning with a two-run homer to left-center.

ON THE HILL

Albertus

Riley Corgan 5.2 IP | 12 Hits | 6 Runs | 4 ER | 1 BB | 2 K

Nathan Rivera (W, 1-0) 3.1 IP | 0 Hits | 1 Run | 0 ER | 1 BB | 6 K

Gwynedd Mercy

Patrick Talley 3.2 IP | 9 Hits | 6 Runs | 2 ER | 3 BB | 3 K

Ryan Kasper 3.1 IP | 1 Hit | 3 Runs | 3 ER | 2 BB | 1 K 

Michael Inglisa (L, 1-3) 1.0 IP | 2 Hits | 1 Run | 1 ER | 0 BB | 1 K

Tommy Angelucci 0.2 IP | 4 Hits | 7 Runs | 7 ER | 3 BB | 0 K

Kevin King 0.1 IP | 2 Hits | 2 Runs | 2 ER | 0 BB | 1 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

Vance Ward 2-for-6 | 3 Runs

Adriel Espada 4-for-7 | 3 Runs | 1 2B | 2 RBI | 3 SB

Elijah Spataj 1 HR | 3 RBI | 3 Runs

Eric Galarza 2-for-6 | 3 Runs | 1 RBI

Eddy Garabito 3-for-4 | 2 Runs | 3 RBI

Anthony Abate 3-for-6 | 1 2B | 1 Run | 3 RBI

Gwynedd Mercy

Sam Junker 3-for-4 | 1 2B | 3 Runs | 1 RBI

Cooper Root 3-for-5 | 2 RBI

NOTEWORTHY

• Espada has six stolen bases over his last two games.
• Abate has five RBI over his last two games.
• It was the first win over Gwynedd Mercy in program history for the Falcons.

UP NEXT

The Falcons take on Emerson at 10 a.m. on Thursday