WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven baseball team picked up a key Northeast-10 Southwest Division victory on Thursday afternoon thanks to sophomore first baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford)'s RBI single in the sixth inning that drove in the game-winning run in a 3-2 win over the visiting Pace Setters.
Garcia closed out the day leading New Haven at the plate finishing 3-of-4 as well as the game-winning RBI. All three of his hits went for single bases, while the Chargers combined for nine total hits on the day. Freshman center fielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) and senior third baseman Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) each added a pair of hits, with each drilling a two-bagger on the afternoon.
Senior shortstop Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and senior leftfielder Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) closed out the Blue and Gold's leading batters, each finishing with one hit, while Walraven also drove in a run.
It was a bullpen day for the Chargers pitching staff with five different players seeing action. Earning the victory on the hill was senior lefthander Josh Walker (Otisville, N.Y./Minisink Valley), the first pitcher out of the pen as he authored a scoreless sixth inning despite allowing one hit. The win is his third in four decisions.
Freshman Devon DiMascio (Mansfield, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) opened up the day for New Haven and was tagged with both runs allowed to the Setters in five innings of work. Overall, he gave up five hits and walked one batter, while striking out a pair. Rookie Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) and junior Tim Kennedy (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) also pitched full scoreless innings, while giving up one hit apiece. LaManna capped off his appearance with a pick off at first base, while Kennedy struck out the first two batters he faced.
After junior Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) secured the first out in the ninth inning, senior closer Kellen Croce (Middlebury, Conn./Gunnery School / Maine) inherited a pair of runners on the bases and capped off the day with his fifth save of the season. Croce's first out came by way of strikeout before his battery mate PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) fired down to third base on a ball that slipped away from him, closing out the victory by erasing the runner trying to advance.
How They Scored
· After surrendering a single run in the top of the first, New Haven got right to work in its half of the opening inning. In the Chargers first at bat of the day, Chamberlain laced a single to centerfield, a hit that eventually led to the first run of the day for the Blue and Gold. After advancing to second on a groundout and third on a single, Chamberlain was able to score thanks to the third hit of the inning, an infield single from Zagaja.
· Chamberlain had a hand in the Chargers next run as well when in the bottom of the fifth, he doubled to centerfield with one out in the frame and was able to advance to just 90 feet from the plate on a misplay of the ball. Walraven used the very next at bat to score the run when he went back-to-back with Chamberlain, drilling a single up the middle to plate the run, tying the game at two.
· The game-winning run for the Chargers came in the bottom of the sixth inning and again began with a double, this time down the right field line off the bat of Zagaja. He would advance to third on a fly ball to center, setting up Garcia who squeezed a ball just inside the third base line and into left field allowing Zagaj to score easily.
Next Up
New Haven returns to action with a three-game NE10 Southwest Division weekend series, hosting the Le Moyne Dolphins at Vieira Field. The series will consist of a single game on Saturday afternoon, preceded by the Chargers annual Senior Day Celebration, and a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 3:00 p.m.
