GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Senior Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) led off with a double in the top of the 15th inning to set up an extra inning victory for the No. 7 University of New Haven baseball team (34-6, 16-6 NE10) over the Adelphi University Panthers (24-17-1, 12-9 NE10) in a game that began on May 4 and was postponed until May 5 due to darkness.
By the end of the 15-inning marathon, graduate student Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) led the Chargers with three hits and two RBI, followed by sophomore Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) who collected two hits with a double, two runs scored and two walks. Seven other Chargers compiled at least one hit, led by junior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) who added one RBI. Walraven, Caico, Garcia, and sophomore Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) each scored one run to contribute to the win.
Seven different Chargers saw time on the mound, with Kennedy getting the start and pitching 6.0 innings with two strikeouts. Senior Kellen Croce (Cheshire, Conn./Gunnery School) (4-0) earned the win, before senior David Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) entered in the 15th inning, getting the "start" for the Chargers in the continuation of yesterday's contest, needing just one inning of work to earn the save.
New Haven scored in the first inning for the eighth time out of the last nine games, as Chamberlain led off with a single before Walraven lifted his third home run of the season over the left-center field fence. Adelphi answered an inning later with three runs, giving a one-run advantage to the Panthers.
New Haven tied up the game in the third and added three more runs in the top of the sixth on a passed ball and an error to take back the lead, 6-3. Adelphi continued responding, scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh, before tying the game on an error with what would have been their final at bats to send the game into extra innings.
New Haven had its best opportunity to tie the game in the 10th, but Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) was thrown out at home attempting to score on a single by Garcia. Adelphi also put runners on second and third in the bottom half, however senior Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) tossed a clutch strikeout to send it to the 11th.
Caico led off with a double down the right field line to begin day two of the game, followed by Zagaja moving Caico over on a ground ball to first base. Garcia came up and scored Caico on a sacrifice fly, to give the Chargers a 7-6 advantage. Palmer was able to retire the side in order in the bottom of the 15th, sealing the deal on a swinging strikeout to take the series lead, 1-0.
The Chargers will continue the remainder of the series as scheduled, and will play a doubleheader with the Panthers this afternoon (May 5) at Bonomo Field on the campus of Adelphi University. For fans who are unable to attend, live stats will be available.
