BOX SCORE Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven baseball team suffered a 2-1 loss Wednesday afternoon to American International College at Frank Vieira Field. The Chargers dropped to 18-14 overall and 7-9 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the loss. The Yellow Jackets improved to 12-19 overall and 6-10 in the NE-10 with the win.

Stephen Clout led the Chargers off in the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle. He was the only base runner in the first inning as the Chargers previously retired the side in the top of the inning. The Yellow Jackets managed one hit in the second inning, while UNH put two runners on base. Both teams stranded all their runners on base as the score remained tied at 0-0 headed into the third.

The Yellow Jackets first batter reached after a dropped third strike in the top of the third. The next batters, Dave Clark, drove a long single to deep left center field and drove in AIC's first run. Clout opened the Chargers' half of the third and earned a base after being hit by a pitch. Clout was stranded at first as AIC recorded three consecutive outs.

The Chargers retired the side in the top of the fourth, while leaving two more runners on base in the bottom of the fourth.

New Haven against retired the side in the top of the fifth behind the pitching of starter Taylor Candage. In the bottom of the fifth, Shane O'Connell stepped to the plate with two outs and Clout on second base. The sophomore drove in the Chargers' only run with a big hit deep down the left field line.

No runs were scored until the Yellow Jackets managed to bring the game-winning run across the plate off a passed ball.

The New Haven bats loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning, but three-straight outs, including a double play left the Chargers down 2-1 headed into the ninth. After a hit and three straight outs in the top of the ninth, New Haven had its final chance in the bottom of the ninth.

Clout once again reached base to open the inning with a walk. Brendon Buckley advanced the game-tying run with a sacrifice bunt, while Ryan Brockett put the game-winning run with a walk. Both runners advanced on a balk. O'Connell was then intentionally walked to load the bases for UNH. A shallow fly ball was the second out, while a ground ball recorded the final out as the Yellow Jackets escaped a late UNH rally.

Candage pitched seven full innings and allowed no earned runs. The sophomore struckou six batters and allowed jsut five hits. Mitch Rossi made the relief appearance and suffered the loss, his third of the season. He threw the final two innings and did not give up an earned run as well.

Center fielder Jack Heary led the UNH bats with two hits, while O'Connell drove in the Chargers only run.

The Chargers will return to the diamond on Thursday night as they travel to Post University in a non-conference match-up. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Waterbury, Conn.