MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of New Haven baseball team opened up the 2018 season at the Northeast Challenge with hot bats and lights-out pitching, flying past the Wilmington Wildcats, 12-0, at the Ripken Sports Complex on Friday afternoon.
 
As a team, New Haven racked up 15 hits on the afternoon to go with their 12-run output, led by senior Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) who had a big day at the plate, homering in the first inning and later tacking on two more hits with five RBI. Sophomore Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) had three knocks and scored three times for New Haven, and graduate student Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) went 2-for-5 at the dish and drove in three runs. Sophomore Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) also knocked in two runs on two hits for New Haven and graduate student Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and junior James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) also tacked on two hits each.
 
During the offensive explosion, senior David Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) was masterful on the mound, throwing seven scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the season's first win. Senior Will Aldam (Danbury, Conn./Berkshire School) and freshman Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) each tossed one inning, with Guarino earning his first career strikeout against his first batter.
 
After a double by Chamberlain and walk by Zagaja to get things started, Caico homered to right field with two outs for his second-career blast. Caico wasn't done yet, however, adding on another RBI in the top of the third and top of the fifth, singling home Huber on both occasions.
 
With a 6-0 lead heading into the sixth inning, the Chargers continued to roll with New Haven loading the bases and Zagaja singling to left field, scoring Chamberlain and junior PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge). Zagaja had a big bat gain in the eighth with an RBI double to right field to plate Walraven. The Chargers added two more runs in the ninth with Contreras' first-career home run and an RBI double by Chamberlain.
 
New Haven returns to the Ripken Sports Complex tomorrow for a doubleheader, first against Concordia (N.Y.) with first pitch set for 10:00 am. Following the conclusion of that game, the Chargers will take on Queens (N.Y.)