WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) went 5-for-5 with three RBI and the University of New Haven baseball team took advantage of some shaky defense as the New Haven topped the Dominican Chargers 14-12 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon from Frank Vieira Field.
 
With the win, New Haven is now 15-12. Dominican falls to 19-21.
 
In addition to Walraven's efforts, Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) also drove in three runs.
 
After Dominican scored the opening run of the game in the top of the second inning, New Haven responded in the bottom of the frame. Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly from Zagaja. Tammaro came up next and cranked a home run deep over the rightfield wall for a 2-1 Chargers lead. In the third, Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) doubled with one out. Kyle Cullen (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) reached on an infield single. The throw to first sailed over the head of the first baseman, plating Petrillo, extending the lead to 3-1.
 
Dominican plated four runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead. New Haven started its comeback in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded on a walk to Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush), a single by Zach Collett (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) and a walk by Cullen, a fielding error by the Dominican shortstop allowed Walraven and Collett to score, making it 7-5.
 
After the teams traded runs in the sixth, New Haven took command of the game in the seventh. Cullen reached on an error and moved to second on a walk by TJ Riccio (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./Comsewogue). After Russo sacrificed the runners to second and third, a triple from Zagaja scored both runners, tying the game at 8-8. Tammaro followed with a double, plating Zagaja for a 9-8 Chargers lead. Brendan O'Reilly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) reached on an error and stole second putting runners on second and third for Walraven who singled both runners home, pushing the lead to 11-8. New Haven scored three more in the eighth, capped by Walraven's fifth hit of the night, an RBI single to score Tammaro, making it 14-8.
 
Dominican battled back, scoring four runs in the ninth inning, but Brian Caselli (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) was able to come in and close the door to preserve the victory.
 
Will Aldam (2-1) picked up the win for New Haven, tossing two innings allowing just one run, striking out two. Caselli picked up his third save of the year, recording the final out with two runners in scoring position.
 
New Haven returns to action on Friday, May 1 when it travels to American International for a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division matchup in Springfield, Mass. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.