WEST HAVEN, Conn. – A Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) triple provided the game tying run and a throwing error allowed him to score the game-winning tally as the New Haven baseball team (8-3) defeated in-state rival Bridgeport by a 10-9 decision. Overall, the Chargers and Knights traded leads six times in the see-saw battle, however the only lead change that mattered was New Haven's two eighth inning runs that provided a 10-9 lead. That lead would prove to be enough for senior closer Kellen Croce (Middlebury, Conn./Gunnery School / Maine) who earned his team-leading third save of the season.
Graduate pitcher Connor Moriarty (Branford, Conn./Branford) earned the victory on the hill, his first of the season. Moriarty was one of seven pitched used by the Chargers. Overall, Moriarty record just one-third inning of action, however he faced five batters and allowed two runs on a pair of hits and two walks. Croce closed out the game pitching the ninth inning and struck out all three batters he faced, despite allowing one batter to reach on a walk.
At the plate, New Haven was led by first baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) and left fielder Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) who each finished with a pair of RBI. Garcia's two RBI came on two hits in four at bats, including a double. Petrillo finished with one hit in five at bats, but that one hit drove in two runs in the Chargers five-run fifth inning.
Overall, New Haven finished with 12 hits, led by third baseman Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) who finished 3-of-5 at the plate, while scoring two runs. Shortstop Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) also finished with a pair of hits, while five other Chargers all secured one base knock. Caico's triple was the longest hit of the day for New Haven, while he joined Garcia and designate hitter Nick Perelli with the only three extra base hits on the day.
How they Scored
· New Haven erased a four-run deficit in with a five-run fifth inning, providing the first lead change of the contest. All nine Chargers came to the plate in the frame, with the first four all reach safely on three singles and a walk. The third hit in that sequence pushed the first two runs across the plate, a single to center from Petrillo. Perelli followed that with a sacrifice fly that allowed Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) to score, while Petrillo eventually came around to score on a double from Garcia. The final run of the inning came courtesy of a wild pitch that allowed Caico to score from third.
· After surrendering that first lead with a pair of runs allowed in the top of the sixth, the Blue and Gold evened the score with a single run in the bottom half of the sixth. This run also came as a Charger sacrificed himself, with Russo providing the fly ball to center that allowed the leadoff walk to centerfielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) to pay off.
· The Chargers would regain a two-run advantage with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. This time around, the first five Charger batters reached safely on a pair of hits, two hit batsman and a walk. The first run would score thanks to a single to left from Garcia, while a bases loaded walk issued to the catcher, PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) driving in the second run.
· New Haven would again surrender its lead, this time allowing three runs to score in the top half of the eighth. However, the Chargers would respond with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, all on a two-out rally. Zagaja sparked things off when he reached on a single to right field, followed by a perfectly placed low liner down the first base line from Caico that allowed Zagaja to score and Caico to wheel out a triple standing up. During the ensuing at-bat for Garcia, Caico forced a throw to third from the Purple Knights catcher that went wide of the third baseman's glove, easily allowing Caico to trot home for the game-winning run.
Next Up
New Haven returns to Northeast-10 Southwest Division action this weekend when they host a three-game set against the Adelphi Panthers. The series is scheduled to begin with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m. A single game on Sunday would close out the weekend. That final game is slated for 1:00 p.m.
