BOSTON – UMBC earned an impressive sweep over Maine, while NJIT and UAlbany each earned series to improve their playoff odds with just two weeks of action remaining.
The Retrievers swept the defending champions 7-1, 15-1 and 4-2 to improve to 11-7 in league play and just three games behind first-place Bryant (14-4). The Bulldogs won their opener against NJIT but fell in consecutive walk-offs on Saturday. UAlbany continued its late-season surge, extending its winning streak to six games with two wins against UMass Lowell, before a loss to conclude the series on Saturday.
Bryant could clinch its first #AEBASE Regular Season Championship with a strong weekend at home against Maine, while UMBC looks to keep pace on the road at Binghamton. NJIT (8-9) travels to UMass Lowell (10-10) in a battle for a top four seed in the conference tournament. UAlbany hosts Manhattan for three in non-conference action.
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 – May 6
Player of the Week
Dawson Baracani, UMBC – Sr., Shortstop, Sammamish, Wash.
- Hit .583 while slugging .917 with a .688 on base percentage, seven RBI and six runs in a sweep of Maine.
- Finished 3-for-4 with four RBI, four runs, a triple and a walk in a 15-1 win.
- This is Barcani’s first #AEBASE Player of the Week honor this season.
Pitcher of the Week
Austin Wainer, Bryant – Sr., Pitcher, Johns Creek, Ga.
- Tossed a 6 IP of shutout baseball, allowing just six hits with one walk and six strikeouts against NJIT.
- This is Wainer’s third #AEBASE Pitcher of the Week honor this season.
Rookie of the Week
John Vitucci, UAlbany – R-Fr., Outfield, Staten Island, N.Y.
- Batted .500 with a .733 on-base percentage, six runs and three hits as UAlbany went 3-1 last week.
- Went 3-for-3 for one walk, two runs and one RBI in a 6-2 win over UMass Lowell.
- This is Vitucci’s second #AEBASE Rookie of the Week honor.
2024 #AEBASE Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 20 – Player 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
April 9 - Player of the Week: Gavin Noriega, Bryant; Pitcher of the Week: Gabe Driscoll, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Cole Campbell, NJIT
April 16 - Player of the Week: Gavin Noriega, Bryant; Pitcher of the Week: Tyler Horvat, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Danny Wyatt, UMBC
April 23 – Player of the Week: Luke Longo, NJIT; Pitcher of the Week: Austin Wainer, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Cole Campbell, NJIT
April 30 – Player of the Week: Jeremiah Jenkins, Maine; Pitcher of the Week: Michael Simes, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Cole Campbell, NJIT
May 6 – Player of the Week: Dawson Baracani, UMBC; Pitcher of the Week: Austin Wainer, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: John Vitucci, UAlbany
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