NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven baseball team brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but was unable to complete the comeback as the Chargers dropped a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division game 6-4 to the Southern Connecticut State University Owls on Tuesday afternoon.
Down 6-1 early, the Blue and Gold battled back late, scoring twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to cut the lead to 6-4. Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) singled to lead off the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate. New Haven advanced the runner to third before a fly out ended the game.
Caico, Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) and Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) each had two hits. Connor Moriarty (Branford, Conn./Branford) pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Owls took a 6-1 lead after three innings. SCSU scored two in the first and four in the third. The Chargers got their run in the second on an Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) single, bringing home Caico who reached leading off the inning and moved to second on a hit by Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro).
- The Blue and Gold clawed closer in the sixth when Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a single by Petrillo. A Nick Perrelli (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) sac fly drove home the lead runner. After a stolen base, Zagaja doubled down the leftfield line, scoring Petrillo to cut the lead to 6-3.
- In the seventh, Grzenda walked to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Owls' pitcher. PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating Grzenda to chop the lead to two runs.
- Moriarty came on for the Chargers in the bottom of the inning, retiring all six batters he faced, keeping the score 6-4 into the ninth.
- Caico singled to lead off the final inning for New Haven and moved to second on a groundout. Another groundout advanced him to third before a fly ball to centerfield ended the game.
NOTEABLE
- Garcia's single extended his hitting streak to six. He has hits in eight of his last nine games and RBI in seven of those contests.
- Moriarty now is tied for the team lead with 10 appearances. He has not allowed an earned run in five straight games.
- Petrillo has hits in five of his last six games including two multi-hit contests.
UP NEXT
The Chargers return to the friendly confines of Frank Vieira Field when they host Dominican in a non-conference game on Wednesday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.