BOX SCORE MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) had four hits and scored two runs as the University of New Haven baseball team won its second straight game to open the season, downing the Mercy Mavericks 7-0 on Friday afternoon at the Northeast Challenge.
 
Scoreless into the fourth, New Haven got on the board first when Petrillo led off with a double, moved up to third on a fly out and came in to score on a sac fly by Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)). The Chargers added to the lead in the fifth when with one out, a double by Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) and a walk to Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) put runners on first and second. After a hit batsman by Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) loaded the bases, a Petrillo single plated two runs to make it 3-0.
 
The Blue and Gold salted the game away in the seventh when singles by Walraven and Petrillo had runners on first and second in front of Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) who launched his first home run of the season to push the lead to 6-0. The final run scored in the eighth when Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) singled to lead off the inning and came in three batters later on a throwing error.
 
On the mound Tim Kennedy (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) (1-0) picked up the win with six scoreless innings, striking out eight. Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) whiffed two in 1.2 frames in his collegiate debut. Colin Keyes (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) and Brandon Cruz (Brentwood, N.Y./St. Anthony's) authored the final 1.1 innings, not allowing a baserunner.
 
New Haven returns to action on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. when it takes on Stonehill at the Northeast Challenge.