HAMDEN, Conn. - A run in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the difference as the Albertus Magnus College baseball team lost its season finale, 9-8 to Western Connecticut State University (WestConn) on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference play at Rochford Field.
Shawn Smith (Shelton, Conn.) hit his sixth homer of the season and 19th of his career as he moved up to sole possession of second place on the school's all-time home run list.
Elijah Spataj (Cheshire, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Vance Ward (Norwalk, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI and Adriel Espada (Bridgeport, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
THE BASICS
FINAL: WestConn 9 | Albertus Magnus 8
RECORDS: Albertus (9-22) | WestConn (9-24)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams put runs on the board in the first inning as the Wolves scored one on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. Albertus starting pitcher Kevin Pascual (Norwalk, Conn.) got into a bases loaded jam, but was able to get out of the inning with just the one run allowed after Charles Mulhall hit into a double play.
- Albertus answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ward Walked and stole second and was driven in on an RBI single by Espada. Two batters later, a groundout by Eric Galarza (Bridgeport, Conn.) brought home Espada to give Albertus the 2-1 lead.
- The Falcons increased its lead to 4-1 after a run in both the third and fourth innings. After Ward singled to lead off the third, Espada laid down a bunt, but the ball was thrown away into the outfield as the Wolves tried to get Ward at third base allowing for him to score making it a 3-1 game. In the fourth, Ward's fielder's choice scored a run.
- The Wolves benefited off of two errors by the Falcons in the top of the fifth to score four runs and take the lead back. Nicholas Moeller had a two-run single and Nick Lobouno had an RBI double during the inning.
- The first five batters reached base for Albertus in the bottom of the sixth, leading to three runs for Albertus. Bobby Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Ward both singled to lead off the inning, followed by Espada getting hit by a pitch. Spataj then drove in Ward and Arent with a two-run single to give Albertus the lead back at 6-5. Two batters later, Smith scored Espada on a fielder's choice.
- WestConn scored three runs in the top of the seventh with two outs to once again reclaim the lead. A wild pitch scored a run followed by back-to--back RBI singles from Richard Salonia and Bryan Birki.
- With the Wolves leading 8-7 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Smith led off the inning with a solo homer to left field, making it an 8-8 game. Albertus had runners on second and third with two outs but were unable to get another run across.
- Lobouno answered Smith's homer with a leadoff homer in the top of the ninth for the Wolves to reclaim the lead.
- In the bottom of the ninth, the Falcons loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.
ON THE HILL
Albertus
Kevin Pascal 4.2 IP | 4 Hits | 5 Runs | 0 ER | 1 BB | 2 K
Tyler Baldwin (Cromwell, Conn.) 1.1 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 1 BB | 1 K
Aaron McIntyre (East Haven, Conn.) (L, 0-3) 2.0 IP | 6 Hits | 4 Runs | 4 ER | 1 BB | 1 K
Albert Molina (Terryville, Conn.) 1.0 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Hits | 0 ER | 2 BB | 1 K
WestConn
Braden Barron 4.0 IP | 5 Hits | 4 Runs | 2 ER | 3 BB | 4 K
Rocco Panaro 1.1 IP 3 Hits | 3 Runs | 3 ER | 2 BB | 2 K
Brandon Payne 1.2 IP | 1 Hit | 1 Run | 1 ER | 3 BB | 2 K
Bryan Mansfield (W, 2-4) 2.0 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 2 BB | 5 K
AT THE PLATE
Albertus
Vance Ward 2-for-4 | 2 BB | 3 Runs | 1 RBI
Adriel Espada 2-for-4 | 2 SB | 2 Runs | 1 RBI
Elijah Spataj 3-for-4 | 2 RBI
Shawn Smith 1-for-5 | 1 HR | 2 RBI
Bobby Arent 2-for-5 | 1 Run
WestConn
Nick Lobouno 3-for-4 | 1 HR | 1 2B | 2 Runs | 2 RBI
Connor Corcoran 2-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 Run | 1 RBI
Nicholas Moeller 1-for-5 | 1 Run | 2 RBI
Luke Dawson 2 BB | 2 Runs
NOTEWORTHY
- Smith's home run broke a tie with Matt Warren (2016-22).
- Spataj finished with 113 RBI at Albertus, putting him fourth all-time in program history.
- Espada had two stolen bases on the day and finished his career tied for fourth all-time in program history with 39.
