Springfield, Mass. - Not even a game that lasted two days due to inclement weather conditions could cool off the Adelphi University baseball team on Thursday.
The Panthers, ranked No.11 in Division II and first in the first edition of the NCAA East Regional poll this week, held on to beat American Int'l, 5-4, in the rubber game of the two teams' Southwest Division series.
On Thursday, the two teams picked up where Monday's original game was halted in the bottom of the second inning, with one out, and Ed Baram on the mound for Adelphi (29-5, 16-1 NE10), with the Panthers already leading, 3-0. Initially, Monday's rescheduled date was a makeup of a previously rained out contest from Sunday, March 31, following a doubleheader that was split between the two teams on Saturday.
Behind seven shutout innings, Baram improved his season record to 7-0 as, the senior struck out eight AIC batters, and lowered his season ERA to 0.46. Jonathan Iadevaia and Michael Cattani each went 2-for-4, while Brett Malm contributed one hit and one RBI for the Panthers.
On Monday, Iadevaia got things started in the first at-bat for the Panthers, with a single to right field to lead off the game. Following a sacrifice fly for Adelphi's first run in thanks to Brandon Warick, a prior series of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Cattani, who roped a two-run single through the right side to bring Malm and Terwilliger around for a three-run edge in the first inning, before rain halted proceedings in the next frame.
On Thursday, the game commenced with the Panthers sitting with a 3-0 lead. After a silent four innings for both teams, Adelphi increased its lead to 5-0, beginning with an RBI single from Malm after singles by Tim O'Connor and Iadevaia. In the next at bat, a sacrifice fly courtesy of Thomas Colombo scored Adelphi's final run of the game.
In its final attempts with the sticks, the Yellow Jackets (16-19, 6-5 NE10) got within one thanks to a four-run ninth, starting with an RBI single and a misstep by the Panthers to score two more.
Despite entering the game with the tying runs on base as the third reliever of the inning, Tom Ambrosino pitched his way out of a big jam - with a pair of strikeouts - to hold off the hosts from a walk-off and notch his league-leading 11th win of the season.
The Brown and Gold will return to action this weekend in a road series against the University of New Haven. The first game will begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday in West Haven, Conn.
About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally and nationally competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.
Winners of 16 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Panther athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi athletic department is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.
Stay connected with Adelphi Athletics by following the Panthers at aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and wear your Panther pride by shopping official Adelphi Panthers gear at our licensed team store.
