Boxscore
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior shortstop
Mike Diaz (Monroe, Conn.) belted a three-run homerun in the top of the second inning on Thursday afternoon to lead the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team defeated American International, 6-1, in Northeast-10 Conference play at The Ballpark at SCSU. Sophomore starting pitcher
Jim Fuller (Marlborough, Mass.) struck out 13 over seven innings on the hill for the Owls. With the win, SCSU improves to 26-15 (16-6 NE-10), while AIC falls to 9-25 (7-16 NE-10) with the loss.
SCSU opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Diaz led off with a double to left-center field, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single to center by junior center fielder
Karl Derbacher (Northford, Conn.).
AIC would even the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the opening frame. Dan Fey led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored when Jeff Rustico deposited a single into center field.
The Owls struck for three runs in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead which they would never relinquish. With one out, freshman
Nick DeProspo (Worcester, Mass.) kick-started things with a single to left field and went to second when senior right fielder
Paul Izzo (Cohoes, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Diaz cracked his third homerun of the season to empty the bases.
SCSU added a run in the top of the third to extend the lead to 5-1. Fiorillo led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice and later scored on a single to left field by DeProspo.
After the two clubs played five scoreless innings, the Owls tacked on another insurance run in the top of the ninth to create the 6-1 final. With one out, Diaz singled to left field and moved to second when junior second baseman
Kevin Bowerman (West Haven, Conn.) worked a walk. Two batters later, Fiorillo knocked a single through the left side to drive home Diaz.
Fuller started on the mound and picked up the victory (8-1) for SCSU. Over seven innings, he surrendered one run on seven hits, walked two and struck out a career-high 13.
Brett Cooley got the start on the hill and took the loss (2-6) for AIC. Over eight innings, he gave up five runs on nine hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out three.
The Owls return to action on Friday, April 25, when they travel to Pace for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Finnerty Field in Pleasantville, N.Y.
