BOX SCORE Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated American International College 6-3 Tuesday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. With the win the Chargers improve to 25-9 overall and 13-6 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 6-24 overall and 3-16 in conference play.

Tuesday's win also brings fourth-year head coach Raphael Cerrato within one win of his 100th career victory.

The opening four innings Tuesday were held scoreless by pitching from New Haven's #T.J. Phelan and AIC's Zach Bunszell. The game's first run came in the bottom of the fifth inning when (Portland, Maine/Deering)David Wirkus hit a one-run lead off bomb over the right center fence at Vieira Field. The Yellow Jackets did not wait long to answer as they tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning. The Chargers regained the lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Sparked by a one-out double by (Portland, Maine/Deering)Kyle Pettoruto#, the Chargers scored three runs on four doubles.

American International cut the Chargers' lead back to one with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Both runs were driven in on a double to left center with one out in the inning. UNH added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error, while Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) then doubled down the left field line and drove in Rombilus. Brocket stole his way to third base and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

In his first appearance in over a year, Matt Sommo (Clinton, Conn./Morgan) pitched one 2/3 shutdown innings for the Chargers in relief, while the UNH career saves leader, Mitch Rossi (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central), closed out the ninth for the Chargers. Sommo handed out three strikeouts, while Rossi collected one.

Phelan lasted six full innings and tallied six strikeouts. He allowed one run on six hits and earned his third win of the 2010 season.

Wirkus went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and one run to lead the UNH bats. Taylor Candage (Portland, Maine/Deering) and Rombilus each added a pair of hits and a run. Senior Kyle Donnelly (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI.

The Chargers return to action on Thursday, April 22 when they travel to Springfield, Mass. to take on the Yellow Jackets. Game time at AIC is set for 3:30 p.m.