BOX SCORE WEST HAVEN, Conn. – All of the scoring came in the top of the fifth inning as the University of New Haven baseball team was edged by visiting Adelphi, 2-0, in Friday’s series opener at Frank Vieira Field. Pat Simone (Branford, Conn./Branford) and Frank Vilacha (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) combined for the Chargers’ strong effort on the mound.
 
The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak as New Haven falls to 27-13 overall and 13-6 in the Northeast-10 Southwest Division. Adelphi improves to 23-22-1 on the season with an 11-8 divisional record.
 
The Chargers still control their own destiny for first place in the division with a sweep tomorrow and can also claim the divisional crown with one win, a Le Moyne home loss to Assumption and at least one loss by Pace in its doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State.
 
In today’s game, Simone made the start and worked the first two innings. The southpaw posted a pair of zeroes, ceding two hits and a walk while notching a strikeout. Vilacha turn the hard-luck loss in what was essentially a spot start. He allowed just two earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three batters in seven innings of action. The right-hander, who battled through three errors behind him, now stands at 6-2.
 
Offensively, the Chargers got a double from Nick Nunziato (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) and singles by Stephen Clout (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern), Chris DeMorais (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) and Brendon Buckley (Monroe, Conn./Masuk). Buckley also stole a base while Andrew Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford / Wheaton) worked three walks in his four trips to the dish.
 
The New Haven bats were stifled by a trio of Adelphi hurlers. Jonathan Mulford worked the first 4.1 innings, while Jeff Andersen (2-3) turned in 3.2 perfect frames of relief to record the win. Dillon McNamara got the final three outs to earn his 13th save of the spring.
 
The Panthers scored both of their runs in the top of the fifth inning. After a double, single and walk loaded the bases with no outs, Vilacha got the first out on a fly ball to left, which Kyle Cullen (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) fired back into the infield to prevent the potential sacrifice fly. During the next at-bat, a snap throw by Joe Romanelli (Baldwin, N.Y./Holy Trinity) down to third base sailed into left, scoring the game’s first run and moving both trailing runners up 90 feet. A walk reloaded the bases and a Richard Mejia sacrifice fly – the only RBI of the game – ran the margin to 2-0 in favor of Adelphi.
 
The Chargers best chance to plate a run came in the bottom of the inning. Following a quick first out, Buckley and Clout hit back-to-back infield hits to put runners on the corners. Brendan O’Reilly then worked a walk to load the bases, chasing Mulford from the game before he became eligible for the win as Andersen took the ball to face Romanelli. The New Haven catcher lofted a pitch that appeared bound for the triangle between three converging Adelphi fielders. However, second baseman Vincent Sharkey extended to make the catch – not only saving a pair of runs but also doubling up Clout at second to end the threat.
 
Frank Vieira Field will house a doubleheader tomorrow to cap the three-game series and the regular season for both clubs. The Chargers will celebrate Senior Day prior to the noon start.
 
Due to UNH Spring Weekend festivities being held at North Campus, fans are advised that the parking lot will be closed on Saturday, May 4. Parking is available on the University’s main campus in addition to the parking lot across from Echlin Hall.