(Valhalla, NY) - Freshman Michael Ambrosecchia (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) went 3 for 3 with two walks, an RBI, and four runs scored, and freshman Luisbert Frias (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester HS) had two hits, four RBI's and two runs scored, but the Westchester Community College Baseball team dropped a 12-11 extra inning heartbreaker to Western Connecticut State JV on Tuesday afternoon at Westchester CC. With the loss, the Vikings are now 11-9 for the 2022 season.

Western raced out to a fast start, scoring four times during the first inning, and five more during the top of the fourth inning, to take a 9-1 lead. However, from there, Westchester found its groove, and chipped away at the deficit.

The Vikings scored three times during the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to a two RBI triple by freshman Weston Baronian (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley HS), and a balk that brought Baronian home, to make it 9-4.

Three innings later, it was a whole new ballgame, as Westchester rallied for six runs to take a 10-9 lead. Freshman Nick Alvarez (Yonkers, NY/Cardinal Hayes) singled home a run to make it 9-5, and it became a 9-6 game when Frias did the same. Then, Baronian doubled home two runs to make it 9-8. One pitch later, the game was tied when a wild pitch brought home Frias, and moved Baronian to third base. AJ Falciglia (Elmsford, NY/Stepinac) then gave Westchester its first lead of the game, when he singled home Baronian to make it a 10-9 game. 

Three outs away from victory in the top of the ninth inning, the Vikings failed to close things out, allowing the Colonials to score twice to take an 11-10 game. However, Westchester had one more rally as a CJ Spence (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon HS) single brought home Frias to tie the score at 11, and force extra innings. However, a WestConn home run during the top of the 10th inning gave the Colonials a 12-11 lead that turned into the final score.

Five different Vikings had at least two hits, with Spence, Baronian, Frias, and Michael Manganelli (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) collecting two hits apiece, to go with three for Ambrosecchia. 

Ambrosecchia also combined with freshman Derek Bufano (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Fordham Prep) and freshman Jason Garcia (Rye Brook, NY/Port Chester HS) and freshman Alvy Grullon (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond) to allow only three runs over six innings in relief, but the effort fell just short of a win.

Westchester CC returns to action on Thursday, April 3 when the Vikings host Rockland CC for their 2022 NJCAA Region XV opener at 3:30 p.m.