HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Pacers and Saints both took home wins on the first day of the 2026 AEC Baseball Championship. Marywood, seeded fourth, pulled off an upset against top seeded, and host, Centenary via a 4-3 win. In the later game, Marywood recorded a 5-2 win against third seeded Immaculata.
#4 Marywood, 4 at #1 Centenary, 3 |
BOX SCORE
Recap Courtesy of Marywood Sports Information Department
Hackettstown, N.J.- Trailing 3-0 entering the fifth inning, the No. 4 seed Marywood University baseball team rallied for four unanswered runs to defeat top seed Centenary University, 4-3, in their opening game of the Atlantic East Conference Tournament on Thursday morning
. The victory marks the first playoff win in program history for the Pacers.
Centenary grabbed an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the first inning before adding an additional run in the third and fourth innings to build a 3-0 advantage. Marywood began its comeback in the top of the fifth.
Nick Ruiz singled and later scored on an RBI single from
Cam Bott.
Evan Bruder followed with a double before
Adam Ginsberg drove home Bott with a groundout to trim the deficit to 3-2.
The Pacers tied the game in the sixth inning when
AJ Kuzior doubled to lead off the frame and eventually scored on
Mike Biskup's RBI single to center field. Marywood threatened for more in the inning by loading the bases, but Centenary escaped the jam to keep the score even. Marywood took its first lead in the seventh. Ginsberg worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Joel Ayers, and scored on Kuzior's RBI single to make it 4-3.
The Pacers' bullpen took over from there.
Brett Kugler earned the win after escaping a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning with a strikeout.
Aidan Dolan and
Austin Bausman each tossed scoreless innings before
Isaac Galarza closed the door in the ninth to secure his second save of the season.
Kuzior finished 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Ayers added two hits. Bruder, Ginsberg, Ruiz, Bott, Biskup, and
Tanner Vicendese also recorded hits for the Pacers, who totaled 10 on the day.
Noah Trager started for Marywood and worked 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Marywood (27-15) will face the winner of the No. 3 Immaculata and No. 2 Marymount matchup on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
#3 Immaculata, 2 vs
#2 Marymount, 5 |
BOX SCORE
Recap Courtesy of Marymount Sports Information Department
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Marymount secured a 5–2 victory over Immaculata on Thursday in the First Round of the Atlantic East Conference Tournament, hosted at Centenary University, scoring in four consecutive innings to build an early lead.
The Saints secured a 5–2 victory over Immaculata with key innings propelling them to success. In the third inning,
Quincy Via's aggressive baserunning following
Tyler Woodring's single allowed him to advance to third and subsequently score on a throwing play, putting the Saints ahead 1–0. The home team extended its lead in the fourth inning. Schick singled and advanced to third base, setting up
Seth Sadler for a sacrifice fly that brought Schick home, making it 2–0.
In the fifth inning, the Saints capitalized on an error. Woodring reached on a miscue and scored on Swekosky's double. Swekosky then crossed home plate following Schick's double, increasing the lead to 4–0. The Saints added another run in the sixth inning when
Anthony Farmakides, after being hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on
Joshmar Carbonell's sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 5–0.
Immaculata attempted a late rally in the eighth inning. Josh Goulburn scored on Hunter Weitzel's RBI single, and a sacrifice fly by Jt Luther brought home another run. However, the momentum was halted, and the Saints maintained a 5–2 lead. The Saints recorded eight hits and two stolen bases, while their pitching staff allowed just two runs over nine innings.
Marymount maintained its advantage through the ninth inning, concluding with a 5–2 final score.
UP NEXT
- Marymount will play #4-seeded Marywood, who won the earlier game of the day, in the winner's bracket tomorrow at 12:30 PM.
- With a win in game two, the Saints will put themselves back in the AEC Championship.
Baseball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 7 (Hosted by Centenary)
#4 Marywood, 4 at #1 Centenary, 3 | BOX SCORE
#3 Immaculata, 2 vs #2 Marymount, 5 | BOX SCORE
Friday, May 8 (Hosted by Centenary)
#3 Immaculata at #1 Centenary, 9am
#4 Marywood vs #2 Marymount, 12:30pm
Game three winner vs Game four loser, 4pm
Saturday, May 9 (Hosted by Centenary)
Game 6:
Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs Loser of Game 6 (if necessary)
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising eight institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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