SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The University of New Haven baseball team (25-10, 16-8 NE10) closed out the regular season splitting its doubleheader at American International on Sunday afternoon. With the split on Sunday, the Chargers locked up the second seed in the Southwest Division with a 13-5 division record and will host the Le Moyne Dolphins in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Championship on Tuesday at Vieira Field.

Leading New Haven in the doubleheader was senior outfielder Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) who combined for five hits in 10 at bats and drove in four runs while scoring twice. Among his five hits were a pair of doubles. Shortstop Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and third baseman Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) each combined for four hits on the afternoon while first baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) split three hits across the doubleheader.

Freshman Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) wrapped up the leading hitters with a pair of hits that drove in three runs, all in the first game of the day. Overall, the Blue and Gold combined for 25 hits in the doubleheader.

On the mound, freshman Devon DiMascio (Mansfield, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) earned the day's victory, pitching five innings in the nightcap. Overall, DiMascio gave up a pair of runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits and he struck out two batters. Suffering the loss in the opening game was senior Vincent Aprea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) who gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits in three innings of work.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

·         The Chargers scattered 12 hits in the opening game led by sophomore second baseman James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) who finished with a career-high three hits, including a double, driving in one run and scoring once.

·         Three players joined Myers with a multi-hit game including freshman centerfielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) who finished 2-for-4, driving in a team-high three runs, all on a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning.

·         Rounding out the leaders at the plate was shortstop Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and third baseman Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) who each finished with a pair of base knocks, both in five plate appearances.

·         In addition to Chamberlain and Myres, first baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) drove in a run for New Haven. That RBI came on his only hit of the day, a single up the middle that drove in Zagaja and broke up the Yellow Jackets shutout attempt with the first of four eighth inning runs.

·         New Haven's final two runs in the ninth inning came with the help of a pair of AIC errors with Myers providing the only RBI of the frame when he drove in Eddie Tammaro (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) on a double to center.

·         Suffering the loss on the hill for the Chargers was senior Vincent Aprea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) who threw three innings, surrendering five runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits and a pair of walks. He also struck out four batters.

·         Among five total hurlers used in the opening game, senior Nick Russo (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) and junior Colin Keyes (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) put up the best numbers of the day, combining to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings. Combined, the pair gave up just one hit and struck out a pair of batters.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

·         Senior Robert Petrillo (Branford, Conn./Branford) smacked a game-best four hits, part of 13 total for the Chargers, while driving in four runs to lead the New Haven bats. Among his four hits were a pair of doubles that in total drove in three of his four RBI.

·         Three other players all finished with a multi-hit game including Walraven, Zagaja and Garcia who all scattered a pair of hits. In addition to his two hits, Zagaja also drove in one run.

·         Right fielder Nick Perelli closed out his afternoon with a pair of RBI which both came on his third home run of the season in the sixth inning. Just prior to that long ball, Petrillo drove in the first of three sixth inning runs when he double to center field to knock in Chamberlain. All three of those runs came with two outs in the inning.

·         Petrillo would go back-to-back innings with an RBI as in the top of the seventh, the senior drilled his second-straight double, this one down the right field line. This time around, Petrillo drove in a pair of runs as Chamberlain and Dylon Grezenda both scored on the play.

·         New Haven opened up its scoring in game two with four runs in the first inning, including one on a double steal pulled off by Petrillo and Perrelli. That double steal was the first two of six total for the Chargers, including a pair for Perrelli.

·         On the mound, rookie Devon DiMascio (Mansfield, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) earned his first victory of the season with a five-inning performance allowing just two runs on four hits. He also struck out two batters and did not issue a free pass.

·         Following DiMascio, Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), Connor Moriarty (Branford, Conn./Branford), Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) and Josh Walker (Otisville, N.Y./Minisink Valley) all pitched scoreless innings, all combined giving up just two hits. The four relievers also combined for five strikeouts with three from LaManna and two from Caico.

Next Up
New Haven will begin its quest for an NE10 Conference Championship on Tuesday afternoon as the second seed out of the Southwest Division. The Chargers will host third seeded Le Moyne with first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the weekend NE10 Championship, a double elimination format that will be hosted by the highest remaining seed from the Southwest Division.