AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Albertus Magnus College baseball team held a lead on two different occasions, but ultimately lost an 11-8 game to Nebraska-Wesleyan University on Saturday to close out the RussMatt Invitational.

Eric Galarza (Bridgeport, Conn.) was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Adriel Espada (Bridgeport, Conn.) was 1-for-3 with a run and RBI while Gio Morales (Manchester, Conn.) was 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run.

On the mound, Nathan Rivera (Windsor, Conn.) struck out three batters in 2.2 innings of relief.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Nebraska-Wesleyan 11 | Albertus Magnus 8

RECORDS: Albertus (2-6) | Nebraska Wesleyan (10-1)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons conceded a run in the top of the first inning, but answered with four runs in their first at bats of the game as the first five batters reached base. Espada walked and Anthony Abate (Naugatuck, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Elijah Spataj (Cheshire, Conn.) who ripped a double to centerfield to tie the game, 1-1. Galarza followed with an RBI single and Shawn Smith (Shelton, Conn.) reached on an error that also plated a run to put Albertus up, 3-1. After a sacrifice bunt, Thomas Pilla's (New Milford, Conn.) sacrifice fly scored Galarza to make it a 4-1 game.
• The Prairie Wolves responded with four runs in the top of the second to regain the lead, highlighted by an RBI triple by Carter Betts.
• Albertus took its second lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Bobby Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Pilla each singled and a fielder's choice by Morales tied the game, 5-5. Two batters later, Espada singled to right to score Morales, putting Albertus ahead, 6-5.
• The lead was short-lived as the Prairie Wolves scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth, including an RBI single by Tommy Fiocchi that put them ahead, 8-6.
• Nebraska-Wesleyan scored two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by Rudy Gres IV to make it a 10-6 game.
• Morales trimmed the Albertus deficit to 10-8 in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run single that scored Pilla and Arent, who both walked to start the inning. 
• Nebraska-Wesleyan added one more run in the top of the eighth inning.

ON THE HILL

Albertus

Kevin Pascual (Norwalk, Conn.) (L, 0-2) 6.1 IP | 14 Hits | 10 Runs | 6 ER | 2 BB | 0 K

Nathan Rivera 2.2 IP | 2 Hits | 1 Run | 1 ER | 3 BB | 3 K

Neb.-Wesleyan

Trevor Storer 2.2 IP | 6 Hits | 6 Runs | 5 ER | 3 BB | 1 K

Cesar Salas (W, 1-0) 3.1 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 3 BB | 3 K

Blaine Walker 0.0 IP | 0 Hits | 2 Runs | 2 ER | 2 BB | 0 K 

Tyler Spreitzer 2.0 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 0 BB | 1 K

Brady Bell (Save, 2) 1.0 IP | 0 Hits | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 1 BB | 0 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

Eric Galarza 2-for-4 | | 1 BB | 1 Run | 1 RBI

Gio Morales 1-for-4 | 1 Run | 3 RBI

Adriel Espada 1-for-3 | 2 BB | 1 Run | 1 RBI

Elijah Spataj 1-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 Run | 1 RBI

Bobby Arent 1-for-2 | 2 BB | 2 Runs

Neb.- Wesleyan

Duncan Ortega 2-for-4 | 1 2B | 4 RBI

Aaron Chazin 4-for-6 | 1 2B | 2 Runs

Rudy Gres IV 1-for-4 | 1 HR | 1 Run | 3 RBI

Tommy Fiocchi 3-for-5 | 2 Runs | 1 RBI

Carter Betts 1-for-4 | 1 3B | 2 BB | 2 Runs | 1 RBI

NOTEWORTHY

Espada has scored at least one run in the last five games and has had at least one hit in seven of eight games this season.

Galarza has a hit in seven of eight games this season.

UP NEXT

The Falcons host Dean in a doubleheader in the team's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season opener beginning at noon on Saturday, March 22.