BOX SCORE Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated American International College 6-1 Thursday afternoon at AIC Park. With the win, fourth year head coach Raphael Cerrato won his 100th career game and the Chargers improve to 26-9 on the season, 14-6 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Yellow Jackets fall to 6-25 overall and 3-17 in conference play.

Each team had three up and three down in the first inning Thursday. The Chargers got on the scoreboard first with two hits and one run in the top of the second inning. Behind shutout pitching from starter Vince Lehman (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable Regional), the Charger still held a 1-0 lead when Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) hit his first career home run over the left center fence.

After stranding one AIC runner on base in the bottom of the sixth, New Haven improved its lead with four more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Tom Ballaro (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) was first to reach base with a one-out single to left center. Jack Heary (Portland, Maine/Deering) then put UNH up 4-0 with a two-RBI shot over the left field fence. After a few walks and one fielder's choice, Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) walked with the bases loaded and put UNH up 5-0. One batter later, Frank Peloso (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) scored the Chargers' final run on a wild pitch.

The Chargers retired the side in the seventh, behind relief pitching from Taylor Candage (Portland, Maine/Deering). In the top of the eighth, UNH once again had an opportunity to put runs on the board, but left two runners on base. The Yellow Jackets only run would come in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the final inning surge was too late as the Chargers grabbed their fifth-straight victory.

Lehman improved his record 4-0 this season with the six-inning win. The senior collected four strikeouts, while walking three. It was also his second-straight shutout appearance, third overall, this season.

Ballaro paced the UNH bats with three hits and two runs. Heary tallied two hits, two RBI's and one run, while David Wirkus (Orange, Conn./Fairfield Prep / St. Anselm College) added two hits and one run.

The Chargers look to continue their winning streak this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders. On Saturday, UNH hosts Bentley University at 12 p.m. Assumption travels to West Haven for an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday.