MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of New Haven baseball team continued its hot start with a 7-3 win over the Wilmington University Wildcats on Sunday, closing out the Northeast Challenge with a perfect 4-0 record.
A pair of southpaw's earned the decisions for the Chargers with junior Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) earning his first win of the season, giving up one hit in two innings of work. Senior Kellen Croce (Middlebury, Conn./Gunnery School / Maine) closed out the contest to pick up his second save in the young season. Over two innings of work, Croce gave up one run on three hits and struck out three.
Senior Mike Schettino (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) finished his first start of the season pitching four inning and allowing a pair of earned run on three hits and two walks. He also finished with a trio of punch outs. Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) and Connor Moriarty (Branford, Conn./Branford) also had appearances on the mound with each not allowing a run.
At the plate, seniors Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) each finished with two hits, while driving in one run and score two times apiece. Senior Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) drove in a pair of runs on one hit in five plate appearances on the plate. Overall, New Haven finished with nine total hits with Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd), Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic), Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) and Eddie Tammarro all finishing with one.
The Chargers got on the board first, taking a 3-0 lead with a single run in the second and two more in the third. Perrelli started the offense when he drove a double down the right field line and after advancing to third, scored easily thanks to a single up the middle from Garcia.
In the third, both runs were scored with two outs in the frame as Russo opened the offense with a one out double to left field. After advancing to third, he would score thanks to Perrelli's second hit of the day, a single to right field. Petrillo swiped second to advance into scoring position where he was able to score on Zagaja's single through the left side, thanks in part to a miscue at the plate by the Wildcats catcher.
Petrillo's muscle came in the fifth inning after Wilmington pulled within one run. Walraven led off the frame with a double down the left field line before a walk from Russo put two runners on. Both would advance on a balk following a Wildcats pitching change, setting up Petrillo's two-RBI double to left field.
New Haven scored a pair of insurance runs in the ninth with Walraven on both ends of the two scores. His two out double to left field scored the first run of the inning, pushing Billy Huber (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) across the plate after he led off the frame working a walk. Walraven would then score the final run of the game later in the frame, taking advantage of the Wildcats second error of the day.
New Haven will return to the Northeast with the home opener next on the schedule as Post is set to visit West Haven on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch against the Eagles is slated for 3:00 p.m.
