BOX SCORE Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated Southern Connecticut State University 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference contest at Frank Vieira Field. The Chargers improve to 22-9 overall and 10-6 in the NE-10, while the Owls falls to 21-8-1 overall and 14-4 in conference play.

The first four innings Wednesday were scoreless at Vieira Field. Through the four innings, both teams left two runners on base. In the top of the fifth inning the Chargers retired the side. UNH senior Kyle Donnelly (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) opened the fifth inning for the Chargers with a long double down the left field line. The Chargers next batter, Cory Carr (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial), singled to center field and advanced Donnelly to third with no outs. Sophomore Kyle Pettoruto (Andover, Mass./St. John's Prep ) then hit into a fielder's choice which scored Donnelly.

Trailing 1-0, SCSU opened the sixth inning with a single, but three straight outs, including a double play, ended the inning. UNH managed one hit in the bottom of the sixth, while senior starting pitcher Vince Lehman (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable Regional) forced another three-straight SCSU outs to open the seventh inning.

Sophomore Jordan Kershaw (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) recorded another lead off hit with a single to right center to start the bottom half of the seventh inning. David Wirkus (Orange, Conn./Fairfield Prep / St. Anselm College) then entered the game as a pinch runner at first base. Donnelly advanced Wirkus to second with a well-place sacrifice bunt, while two errors eventually scored Wirkus and gave the Chargers a 2-0 lead.

The Owls had just two base runners in the final two innings, while Mitch Rossi (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central) stepped into the game on the mound for the Chargers and recorded his eighth save of the season.

Lehman led the Chargers in his third win of the season. He pitched seven 1/3 innings and tallied eight strikeouts.

The UNH bats were led by Donnelly with the team's only extra-base hit. Pettoruto added one RBI, while four others registered a hit.

The Chargers return to action this weekend when they travel to Merrimack College for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 17. New Haven also hosts American International on Sunday in a single game at 12 p.m.