WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven baseball team scored a run in the bottom of the ninth of game one before taking a lead in the middle innings and holding on in game two for a doubleheader sweep of the American International Yellow Jackets in a pair Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division games at Frank Vieira Field on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers took the opener 5-4 before winning the second contest 5-2.
 
What it Means:
·         By winning the two games, New Haven sweeps the three-game weekend series.
·         The Chargers improve their overall record to 8-8.
·         The Blue and Gold is now 3-0 in both NE-10 and Southwest Division play. 

Key Players:
·         Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) went 6-for-9 in the doubleheader with a double and two RBI.
·         Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) had the game-winning hit in the opener before collecting three hits in the second matchup, extending his hitting streak to seven games.
·         TJ Riccio (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) and Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) each had three hits in the twinbill.
·         Mike Schettino (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) picked up his first win in a New Haven uniform tossing three scoreless innings in game two.
·         David Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) started game one and struck out eight batters in seven innings of work.
·         Will Aldam (Danbury, Conn./Berkshire School) pitched two scoreless innings in the second contest to earn his first career save. 

How it Happened (Game One):
·         The Yellow Jackets jumped on the board first with a pair of second inning runs.
·         New Haven came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) delivered the biggest shot with a two-run triple to score Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) and Joe ·         Caico. Russo scored on a passed ball later in the frame.
·         AIC tied the game with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
·         With runners on second and third on a hit batsman and an error, Perrelli drove a ball over the leftfielder's head to score Caico with the winning run. 

Turning Point (Game One):
After seeing American International tie the game an inning earlier, Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) picked up his only hit of game one, a rocket to the wall in leftfield to score Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) with the winning run.
 
How it Happened (Game Two):
·         The Chargers scored in the bottom of the first inning as Perrelli and Zagaja singled in front of Riccio who drove in Perrelli with a hit to centerfield.
·         AIC scored single runs in the second and fourth innings, both coming on balks with a runner on third.
·         The Blue and Gold took the lead back in the fifth, scoring a pair of unearned runs, one on a PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) groundout and one on a Caico single.
·         New Haven added to the lead in the sixth as a Zagaja single brought home Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) who led off the inning with a hit. After the bases were loaded on walks, Contreras drew a base on balls to force home Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford). 

Turning Point (Game Two):
The Chargers took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues by AIC in the fifth to score a pair of runs and take the lead for good. Mike Schettino (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) took care of the rest, retiring the first seven batters he faced to keep momentum on New Haven's side.

Up Next:
The Blue and Gold return to action for a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division game at Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday, March 30 at 3:30 p.m.