BOX SCORE Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated Concordia College (N.Y.) 4-3 Thursday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field in its 2010 home opener. The Chargers improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Clippers fall to 6-6.

New Haven wasted no time scoring with a run in the bottom of the opening inning. Sophomore Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) doubled down the left field line to open the inning. David Wirkus (Orange, Conn./Fairfield Prep / St. Anselm College) then moved Brockett to third with a single to center field. Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) then hit into a double play which scored Brockett from third, putting UNH up 1-0.

Two runners reached base in the top of the second, but starting pitcher Mike Aquilino (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) managed to through a strikeout and forced a foul fly to get out of the inning. After a scoreless bottom of the second and third inning the Chargers put another run on the board. Kyle Donnelly (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) doubled to right center before a Pettoruto drove him in off a single down the left field line.

The Chargers went into the fifth inning with a 2-0 lead, but the Clippers then scored third in the top of the fifth to go ahead 3-2. The Chargers left one runner on in the bottom of the fifth and the Clippers left one on base in the top of the sixth as Concordia kept a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.

Rombilus opened the UNH half of the sixth with a single to right field and advanced to second on a ground out by Cory Carr (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial). After a Donnelly walk, Pettoruto smacked a double to right center and drove in two runs. Two more runners were left on base that inning as New Haven took a 4-3 lead into the seventh.

Chris Smith (Shelton, Conn./Emmett O'Brien Tech.) then struck out two batters and forced a ground out in the top of seventh inning. The Chargers offense also did not muster a run in the bottom of the seventh. Concordia's lead off batter in the eighth inning grounded out, but then the Clippers managed to load the bases. Mitch Rossi (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central) then stepped onto the mound for the Chargers and threw just three pitches before played a key role in turning a double play. Rossi forced a short ground ball to hop into his glove. He then made the throw to home plate for the force out and Shane O'Connell finished the double play with a throw that beat the runner to first base.

New Haven left another two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning, but they sealed the victory as the game was called due to darkness after eight innings.

The Chargers were led by two hits and three RBI's from Pettoruto. Aquilino had a solid start with five strikeouts and just three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Smith earned the win in 2 1/3 innings with four k's and four hits. Rossi grabbed his second save of the season from the closer position.

New Haven heads to Florida tomorrow morning for their spring break trip. The team opens the Palm Beach Challenge on Saturday in a doubleheader against Nyack. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.