BOX SCORE Box Score

LOWELL, Mass. - The University of New Haven baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in a 15-inning marathon game at UMass Lowell Wednesday night in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Conference Baseball Championship tournament. With the loss, New Haven falls to 26-18 on the season and is most likely eliminated from any NCAA postseason hopes. The River Hawks improved to 36-10 and advance to take on Southern Connecticut State University in the NE-10 tournament.

The Chargers starting pitcher Matt Sommo, along with UMass Lowell starter Jack Leathersich, pitched eight complete innings of shutout baseball to open Wednesday's game. New Haven put runners on base in the third, sixth and eighth inning as they stranded seven on base in the first eight innings. The River Hawks best opportunity came in the eighth inning as they put two runners on base.

New Haven closer Mitch Rossi entered the game in the ninth inning and gave up a lead off single. The senior got out of the inning and threw another four scoreless innings, lasting all the way through the 13th inning. Lowell also made a pitching change in the ninth as Dylan Ramey took the mound. In the Chargers 10th inning, Tom Rombilus hit a one out single, while Ryan Brockett reached on a catcher's interference as the next batter. Shane O'Connell then hit into a double play as the Chargers best opportunity in extra innings came to a close.

The Chargers would retire the side in each of the next three innings as a combination of outstanding pitching a defense was on display. In the bottom of the 13th inning, the River Hawks threatened with two base runners, but a Rossi strikeout ended the inning with the scored still tied at 0-0.

As the game wore on into the 14th and 15th inning, both teams continued to pitch outstanding. UNH was retired in the top of the 14th, followed by another three outs in the bottom of the 14th from the Chargers third pitcher Taylor Candage. In the top of the 15th, the Chargers were once again retired by the River Hawks third pitcher Garrett Cole. The River Hawks would capitalize in the bottom of the 15th inning with a trio of hits. With runners on second and third, Connor Burnham hit a one-out single to center field to give the River Hawks the walk-off victory.

Sommo went eight innings, struck out seven batters and walked two. He allowed just three hits and no earned runs. Rossi threw five innings, the most in one appearance in his career, three strikeouts and allowed just three hits. In his first and only loss of the season, Candage threw three strikeouts and allowed three hits.

At the dish, Chris DeMorais led the Chargers with three hits in five at bats. Ryan Brockett was the only other Charger to record multiple hits with two hits in five at bats.

In their third straight postseason appearance, the Chargers posted a 26-18 record. They were ranked sixth in the latest NCAA East Regional Rankings.