SHIRLEY, N.Y. – The University of New Haven baseball team was upended in a pair of games by the Dowling Golden Lions in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. The Chargers fell 3-2 in game one before being downed 8-1 in the second contest.
 
In game one, New Haven tallied the initial run in the top of the second inning when with one out, Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) singled. Two batters later, Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) doubled to right, scoring Zagaja for a 1-0 lead. Dowling responded an inning later, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third.
 
Trailing by that same 2-1 score in the seventh, TJ Riccio (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) led off for the Chargers with a single and moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt. Zagaja lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to plate Riccio from third, knotting the game at 2-2. The Golden Lions got the run back in the bottom of the inning when a Vinny Orlando sac fly brought home Chris Russo who walked to lead off the inning.
 
On the mound, the New Haven got a good start from David Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) who received a no decision, throwing six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out six.
 
In the second game, Dowling jumped in front early scoring six times in the first inning. The Blue and Gold got one of the runs back in the fourth when Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a wild pitch. The Golden Lions scored twice more in the sixth to cement the final score.
 
Overall for the two games, Zagaja, Petrillo and Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) each had two hits.
 
New Haven returns to action on Friday, March 18 when it hosts LIU Post. First pitch from Frank Vieira Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.