BOX SCORE Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. - University of New Haven senior closing pitcher Mitch Rossi tossed a shutout inning to earned his 33rd career save Thursday afternoon as the Chargers defeated Assumption College 2-1. He became NCAA Division II's all-time saves leader and earned his ninth save of the season. Rossi passed the previous NCAA Division II record holder Jake Williams (2004-07) of Erskine College who previously held the record of 32 career saves.
New Haven improved to 21-14 overall and 9-9 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. Assumption fell to 13-26 overall and 6-13 in conference play with the loss.
The Chargers left four runners on base through the first six inning Thursday afternoon. The Greyhounds also left four runners on base in the first six innings. Both teams were held scoreless through six and found themselves tied at 0-0 heading into the seventh.
Back-to-back Greyhound errors put Chris DeMorais and Jack Heary on base for the Chargers in the top of the seventh. Andrew Johnson then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out. After a pitching change, DeMorais gave the Chargers a 1-0 lead off a wild pitch. David Wirkus then hit a single up the middle and drove in the Chargers' game-winning run.
The Greyhounds then used three hits to register one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. New Haven threw-out one runner at home plate to maintain the lead.
UNH shutout the Greyhounds in the bottom of the eighth and the ninth to secure its 21st win of the season.
Alex Smith started the game on the mound for UNH and threw six complete innings, earning his second win of the season. He struck out seven and gave up five hits. Rossi took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and secured the win for the 33rd time in the last four years.
Wirkus led the UNH bats with two hits and one RBI in three at bats.
The Chargers return to action on Saturday, April 30 when they host Stonehill College at Frank Vieira Field in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Vieira Field.
