BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. - The University of New Haven baseball team opened the 2011 season Saturday with a doubleheader sweep over the Dowling College Golden Lions in Long Island. Senior pitcher Matt Sommo pitched a complete 7-inning game shutout in the opening 3-0 victory, while a run in the top of the ninth inning propelled the Chargers to a 7-6 victory in the nightcap.

Game One
The Chargers wasted no time starting the 2011 season off with a walk by lead off batter Tom Rombilus. Two batters later Shane O'Connell advanced to first on a walk and Rombilus stole second base. Sophomore Jack Heary then drove a single to center field to load the bases with just one out. Kyle Pettoruto took a walk and quickly gave the Chargers a 1-0 lead. The Chargers fifth batter, Cory Carr, then stepped to the plate and gave the Chargers 2-0 lead with a single to left field. The top of the inning ended on a double play, but the Chargers led 2-0.

Two innings later, Heary scored an unearned run off an error by the third baseman to give UNH a 3-0 lead. Starting pitcher Matt Sommo then continued his outstanding game for the next four innings. He allowed two base runners in just one inning and stranded a total of six Dowling runners on base. He also recorded a pair of strikeouts in the final inning to earn his first victory of the season.

Heary led the UNH bats in the first game with two hits and one run in three at-bats.

Game Two
The Chargers once again scored a pair of runs to open the game with a 2-0 after the top of the first inning. O'Connell drove in the Chargers first run with a triple to left center, while Cory Carr blasted a sac-fly to right field later in the inning to drive in the Chargers second run. Alex Smith started the game on the mound for the Chargers a retired the side in the bottom of the first.

Freshman Brendon Buckley scored the Chargers' third run in the top of the second inning off a wild pitch which got away behind home plate. Anotherr two runners were stranded on base by New Haven in the second. Dowling strung a pair of hits together in the bottom half of the second to get on the board with one run.

The Golden Lions added one in each of the next two innings to tie the score at 3-3 headed into the fifth inning. UNH took the lead back with an unearned run off an error in the top of the fifth, while the Golden Lions quickly took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Dowling hammerred four hits and the Chargers had one error to give Dowling three runs and three runners left on base after a ground out ended the inning.

In the top of the next inning, the Chargers scored two runs with two outs to tie the score at 6-6. Stephen Clout and Ryan Brockett both registered RBI's to even the score. Sophomore Taylor Candage entered the game to pitch for UNH and stranded two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth.

Two more scoreless innings followed before the Chargers broke the tie in the top of the ninth inning. Brockett opened the inning with a single, while O'Connell followed with a double. After an intentional walk of Heary, Carr stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to but UNH ahead. After the top of the inning came to a close, shutdown closer Mitch Rossi checked into the game for the Chargers. The senior hurled one strikeout and allowed one hit before forcing a fly out to end the game.

Rombilus led the Chargers in game two with two hits and two runs score in three at-bats. O'Connell added two hits, one RBI and one run, while Carr chipped in two RBI's. Brockett also added two hits, one RBI and one run in four at-bats. Smith pitched 4-and-2/3 innings and earned a no dicision, while Taylor Candage was the pitcher of record in the final inning. Rossi improved his UNH career record with his first save of the season.

The Chargers return to action on Sunday, March 5 in a doubleheader against Molloy College. The doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. and will be hosted at Golden Lions Field on the campus of Dowling College. Complete game coverage can be found on NewHavenChargers.com.