BOX SCORE Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated Mercy College 14-0 Monday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. UNH also wrapped up its 2010 regular season schedule with the win which improves them to 31-11 on the season. The Mavericks fall to 18-26 overall.

With a dropped ball in the left field and Jordan Kershaw (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) on third base, the Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Frank Vilacha (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) then struck out three of four batters in the top half of the third inning to keep the Chargers ahead 1-0.

New Haven then exploded with five runs off five hits and one Maverick error in the bottom of the third. Freshman Taylor Candage (Portland, Maine/Deering) led the way with two RBIs and a run in the third inning. Despite two base runners and a wild pitch, Vilacha managed to get the Chargers out of the fourth inning scoreless as well.

The Chargers next runs came in the fifth inning when Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) and Shane O'Connell each drove in a run. With an 8-0 lead after five, the Chargers went to the bullpen where freshman Peter Jay (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) took the mound for the seventh and eighth innings. Jay held the Mavericks hitless with one strikeout through two.

Meanwhile, the Chargers added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and four more in the bottom of the eighth. Stephen Clout (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) hammered a two RBI single to right field in the seventh, while four different players hit RBIs in the eighth inning.

Lefty reliever Kyle Befus (Northford, Conn./North Branford) then came in and closed the game out with a ground out and double play to end the game.

Rombilus led the team, going 4-for-6 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs. Candage and Clout both went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Kyle Pettoruto (Andover, Mass./St. John's Prep ) scored two runs and drove in one off a walk. Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) also finished the day with two runs and one RBI.

Vilacha earned the win for the Chargers and improves to 2-2 on the season. The freshman registered eight strikeouts and did not throw a walk.

The Chargers now return to action on Thursday, May 6 when they travel to the Northeast-10 Conference Baseball Championship tournament at Franklin Pierce University this weekend. The Chargers take on Stonehill in their opening round game on Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Rindge, N.H.