Boxscore

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior starting pitcher Justin Cox (Newburgh, N.Y.) threw seven innings of two-hit ball on Sunday afternoon as the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team defeated American International, 10-2, in Northeast-10 Conference play at The Ballpark at SCSU. The SCSU pitching staff held AIC to two hits on the afternoon. With the win, SCSU improves to 24-15 (13-6 NE-10), while AIC falls to 9-23 (7-14) with the loss.

AIC struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. Dan Fey led off with a walk but was erased at second when Jason Rustico reached on a fielder's choice. His brother, Jeff Rustico, then grounded a single through the left side to put runners at first and third with one out. Dave Dest followed with a line-drive single to right field to plate Jason Rustico with the game's first run and put runners at the corners again. However, after a walk to Kyle McNiff loaded the bases, Dan Bassani bounced into an inning-ending double play as SCSU escaped with only a 1-0 deficit.

The Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 2-0 with a run in the top of the second. John Shivo led off with a walk, moved to second when Dan Mooney was hit by a pitch and came into score an unearned run two batters later when Fey reached on an error by SCSU junior third baseman Chris Barile (Holbrook, N.Y.).

SCSU got one run back to slice the lead in half in the bottom of the third. With one out, sophomore third baseman Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) lined a single to right field and moved to second when junior second baseman Kevin Bowerman (West Haven, Conn.) was hit by a pitch. Junior first baseman Mo Davidson (Winsted, Conn.) then singled through the left side, but Malen was erased at the plate trying to score. Junior center fielder Karl Derbacher (Northford, Conn.) followed with an RBI single through the right side to score Bowerman and cut the AIC lead to 2-1.

The Owls tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Senior designated hitter Anthony Fiorillo (New Haven, Conn.) led off with a walk and moved to third on a double down the right-field line by freshman left fielder Andrew Babb (Hopkinton, Mass.). Two batters later, senior right fielder Paul Izzo (Cohoes, N.Y.) lined an RBI single to left field to score Fiorillo with the tying run.

SCSU took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Davidson worked a walk and moved to second on an infield single by Derbacher. Fiorillo followed with a line-drive single to center field to drive home Davidson and give the Owls a 3-2 lead.

The Owls broke the game open with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the eighth to create the 10-2 final. Fiorillo had the big blow in the inning with a three-run double off the wall in left-center field. Also in the frame, Bowerman drove in a run with a walk, Davidson pushed an RBI single into left field, Derbacher bounced a run-scoring single through the left side and Babb lined an RBI single through the left side.

Cox started on the hill and earned the victory (4-3) for SCSU. Over seven innings, he gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, walked three, hit two batters and struck out nine. Junior Brian Lazor (Hewitt, N.J.) pitched a scoreless, hitless final two innings, walked two and struck out two to pick up his second save of the season.

Dillon Fontaine started on the mound for AIC and did not factor in the decision. Over 6.2 innings, he gave up two runs on seven hits, walked one, hit two batters and struck out eight. John Scanlon took the loss (1-1) out of the bullpen for the Yellow Jackets. He faced two batters in relief in the seventh inning, was charged with one run, gave up one hit and walked one.

The Owls return to action on Wednesday, April 23, when they host Merrimack in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at The Ballpark at SCSU in New Haven.