BOSTON – The UMBC offense came alive to secure a sweep over Binghamton last weekend while Bryant took two of three from defending champion Maine.
The Retrievers won both ends of a doubleheader against Binghamton, winning 2-0 and 11-9, and then secured an 11-8 victory on Sunday to earn the sweep. The Bulldogs took down Maine in a pair of walk-offs on Friday, winning 5-4 in eight innings to begin the series and then 5-4 in ten innings to close the day. Maine came back to win 1-0 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
Elsewhere, UAlbany and UMass split a doubleheader on Friday and NJIT captured two of three against Fairfield in non-conference action.
All seven teams are scheduled to play again on Tuesday, including the Highlanders playing at Rutgers. UMBC, meanwhile, is currently riding a seven-game win streak and hosts Coppin State. This weekend, Bryant welcomes UMBC in a battle for first place while UMass Lowell travels down to NJIT. UAlbany hosts Maine, while Binghamton plays at Middle Tennessee State.
The preseason poll was announced on January 24.
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of the #AEBASE this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
Follow the @AmericaEast on X to stay up-to-date on America East baseball news all season long and use #AEWLAX to join the conversation.
#AEBASE Weekly Award Winners – April 2
Player & Rookie of the Week
Luke Filippi, UAlbany – So., Outfield, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
- Batted .600 with a .714 on-base percentage in leading the Great Danes to a series win over Maine.
- Had two hits in each contest and scored six runs with four RBI. Also had a double and a steal.
- This is Filippi’s first career #AEBASE Player of the Week honor.
Pitcher of the Week
Aidan Kidd, NJIT – Sr., Pitcher, Laguna Beach, CA
- Threw 6.0 IP with just three hits allowed, one earned run and a career-high 12 strikeouts in a 4-3 victory over UMass Lowell.
- No player made it past second base in his final five innings while batters went just 3-for-20 against him in the contest.
- This is Kidd’s first #AEBASE Pitcher of the Week honor this season.
Rookie of the Week
Thomas McElwee, UAlbany – Fr., Catcher, West Islip, N.Y.
- Batted .444 with a .500 on-base percentage, going 4-for-9 in while scoring twice with two RBI.
- Caught both wins, not allowing a passed ball or wild pitch in the two contests.
- This is McElwee’s first career #AEBASE Rookie of the Week honor.
2024 #AEBASE Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 20 –P layer of the Week: Carlos Martinez, UMass Lowell; Pitcher of the Week: James Capellupo, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Sean O’Leary, UMass Lowell
Feb. 27 – Player of the Week: Mike Gunning, Binghamton; Pitcher of the Week: Sam Downs, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: John Vitucci, UAlbany
Mar. 5 – Player of the Week: Luke Longo, NJIT; Pitcher of the Week: Sam Downs, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Case Ladehoff, NJIT
Mar. 12 - Player of the Week: Austin Francis, NJIT; Pitcher of the Week: Austin Wainer, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Cole Campbell, NJIT
Mar. 19 - Player of the Week: Anthony Swenda, UMBC; Pitcher of the Week: Jayden Shertel, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Jason Kreiger, Maine
Mar. 26 – Mar. 19 - Player of the Week: Danny Wyatt, UMBC; Pitcher of the Week: Luke Johnson, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Danny Wyatt, UMBC
April 2 - Player of the Week: Luke Filippi, UAlbany; Pitcher of the Week: Aidan Kidd, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Thomas McElwee, UAlbany
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -