GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The University of New Haven baseball team dropped its final game of a three-game series against the Adelphi Panthers on Sunday afternoon, falling 4-2 at Bonomo Memorial Field. With the loss, New Haven falls to 13-16 overall in 2016 and 6-8 in the Northeast-10 Conference.
New Haven finished the game outhitting the Panthers, combining for eight total hits compared to Adelphi's six. Leading the way for New haven was right fielder Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) and catcher TJ Riccio (Port Jeff Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) who each finished with two hits. Riccio's two hits came in three at bats while he also registered a walk.
Driving in the two New Haven runs was third baseman Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) and designated hitter Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side). Zagaja would join in the hit column, finishing as one of four Chargers with one hit in the contest with left fielder Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford), first baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) and second baseman James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) joining him.
Suffering the loss on the hill for the Blue and Gold was senior righty Luke Foster (Stonington, Conn./Stonington), whose pitched 7.1 innings in his second decision of the season. Overall, Foster gave up four runs, two of which were earned, on five hits and three walks. He also struck out three batters. Sophomore right hander Tim Kennedy (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) would see time out of the pen for the Chargers, pitching two-thirds of an inning, giving up one hit.
New Haven opened up the scoring in the first inning with Zagaja registering his team-leading 31st RBI of the season when he drove in Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) with his team-best 11th double of the year. Perrelli originally reached base on a one out single back to the pitcher, while Zagaja's RBI double came with two outs in the frame.
The Chargers would maintain that lead until Adelphi knotted the score with a single run in the third, however New Haven responded by regaining a one-run advantage in the fourth. In that frame, the Chargers were able to push one run across the plate despite having a bases loaded opportunity with no outs. Tammaro would drive in the go-ahead run when his sacrifice fly to left allowed Zagaja to tag up from third.
Adelphi would again tie the score with a single run in their half of the fourth inning before scoring the eventual game-winning runs in the eighth when they plated a pair.
New Haven returns to action on Monday afternoon when they host a rescheduled game against the Saint Anselm Hawks at Vieira Field. The single game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.
