WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven baseball team used late offense in game one and got a sterling pitching performance in game two as the Chargers swept a doubleheader from the Dowling Golden Lions at Frank Vieira Field on Saturday afternoon. New Haven won the opener 6-4 before taking the second contest 4-0.
 
In game one, after a scoreless first two innings, Dowling got on the board with a run in the third and three in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. New Haven responded in the bottom of the sixth as with one out TJ Riccio (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) and Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) both singled to put men on first and second before each runner moved up a base on a balk. PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) and Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) followed with singles of their own, each driving in a run to slice the lead to 4-2.
 
The Chargers took control of the game in the seventh as Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) led off with a walk and moved to second on a single from Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side). Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) followed with a single to score Russo and move Tammaro to second. After a sacrifice by Riccio to move the runners to second and third, Zagaja singled into center, plating Tammaro. The throw home sailed over the head of the catcher allowing Petrillo to score and Zagaja to take second, giving the Blue and Gold a 5-4 lead. Following a stolen base by Zagaja, a wild pitch brought him home, pushing the lead to 6-4.
 
On the mound, Vincent Aprea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) (2-0) was strong, working around the trouble in the middle innings to throw seven strong, striking out six. Brian Caselli (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second save.
 
In game two, Kellen Croce (Middlebury, Conn./Gunnery School) dominated on the mound, firing his second consecutive complete game shutout, striking out six along the way. The Chargers got him all the runs he would need in the third as with runners on first and second and two out, Zagaja drove a ball over the head of the rightfielder for a double, scoring Petrillo and Riccio. New Haven added single runs in the fourth on a Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) sac fly and in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Alex Palmieri (West Haven, Conn./West Haven).  
 
The two teams return to action tomorrow as New Haven makes the trip to Shirley, N.Y. to face Dowling on the road for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.