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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Six hits and 10 RBI from junior centerfielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) sparked a two-game sweep for the University of New Haven baseball team on Saturday at the Ripken Sports Complex in Myrtle Beach. The Chargers opened up the day with a 6-2 win over Felician before the bats erupted for a 17-1 victory over the STAC Spartans.
Chamberlain finished with three hits in each of the two games while he drove in three runs in the opening game and knocked in seven in the second game. Among his six hits was a pair of home runs against the Spartans, the second of which was a grand slam as part of a five-run ninth inning.
Joining him in leading the Chargers at the plate was third baseman Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) and shortstop Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) who combined for five hits apiece, while Huber also drove in four runs. All totaled, Huber, Budzik and Chamberlain, who made up the top three in the lineup, combined for 16 of the Chargers 25 total hits on the day. In addition to Chamberlain's two home runs, Huber also went yard for the Blue and Gold, knocking in three runs on the first home run in his career.
On the mound, six Chargers hurlers combined for 16 strikeouts, led by sophomore Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) who struck out seven batters in six innings of work as he picked up his first victory of the season against STAC. Senior Christopher Leindecker (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) earned the victory in the opening game with four scoreless innings of relief work, allowing just one hit. Freshman right hander Dominic Rutigliano (Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey) started game one for the Chargers, pitching four innings and allowing a pair of runs on four hits.
GAME ONE: New Haven 6, Felician 2
The top of the order for New Haven proved most productive with the top three in the order each leading the Chargers bats with three hits apiece. Among the trio, centerfielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) led the way for New Haven driving in three runs off of his three hits. Joining Chamberlain in leading the team at the plate was short stop Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) and third baseman Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge). Overall, New Haven finished with 10 hits with the only other base knock coming from designated hitter Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley).
On the mound, freshman right hander Dominic Rutigliano (Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey) threw four innings in his collegiate debut, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks. He also struck out four batters. Senior Christopher Leindecker (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) was the first of two relievers used by the Chargers as he earned the victory in his first appearance of the year. The right hander threw four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
Junior Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) closed out the game for the Blue and Gold throwing one scoreless inning, allowing a single hit and striking out two of the four batters he faced.
Both teams scored a single run in their half of the first inning. Trailing by one, the Chargers bats got to work early with Budzik leading off the bottom of the first with a single to right center. Huber followed him with the only extra base hit of the game for New Haven, a double to right center which left runners on second and third. Facing two on with two outs, designated hitter Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) was hit by a pitch and catcher PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) followed with a walk, driving in the tying run.
After allowing a Felician run in the third inning, the Chargers responded by plating two runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the afternoon. Huber and Chamberlain opened up the frame with back-to-back singles with the latter of those leaving runners on the corners. Both would score without another hit being registered in the inning thanks to two wild pitches and a balk.
New Haven added two more runs in the fourth inning with the first runner of the inning courtesy of a dropped fly ball allowing Myers to reach safely. He was followed by Budzik who singled to center field. After a fly out to center allowed Myers to advance to third and Budzik advanced on a stolen base, both were driven home by Chamberlain who singled to right field.
Chamberlain would strike once more in the sixth inning when his third hit of the day, a single up the middle, allowed Budzik to score the sixth and final New Haven run after originally reaching base on a single to right center.
On the mound, after allowing the single runs in the first and third inning, the Chargers hurlers held Felician to just two baserunners over the final six innings, both of which reached on hits.
GAME TWO: New Haven 17, STAC 1
In his first appearance of the season, sophomore Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) scored his first victory of the year allowing just one run over six innings of work. Overall, Mestre allowed five hits while striking out seven batters, a high for all Chargers pitchers through the first three games. Brendon Malouf (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) and Ben Shadeck (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) would each throw in relief of Mestre, with the pair combining to throw three scoreless frames.
At the plate, the Chargers were once again led by Chamberlain who drove in seven runs on three hits, including a ninth inning grand slam, one of two home runs for the centerfielder. In addition to him, the top four in the order all combined for nine of the Chargers 15 hits with Huber among the group driving in four runs on a pair of hits while also scoring four runs.
Budzik and right fielder Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) followed with a pair of RBI each while both also finished with two hits on the day. Rounding out the leaders at the plate was second baseman James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) who also finished with two hits, while scoring three runs.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Chargers began a scoring streak that included four runs in the second inning, a single run in the second and two more in third for a 7-0 lead before the Spartans could muster their first and only run in the fifth inning.
The biggest bat in the Chargers second inning came in the form of a three-run home run from Huber as the first long ball of his career sailed over the left field fence to score Myers and Budzik who each reached on singles. Budzik also drove in a run in the inning as he plated Boag who sparked the New Haven bats in the inning with a double to left center.
After the single run in the third inning came on a double play, the next two for the Chargers came on yet another home run, the first of two in the game for Chamberlain. This home run for the centerfielder went to right center as he also drove in Huber who reached base on an error at third base.
Following Felician breaking up the shutout in the fifth inning, the Chargers returned to the scoring column with 10 runs over the final four innings, including a five-run ninth inning which was highlighted by Chamberlain's grand slam. Chamberlain would also pick up an RBI in the sixth inning with he and Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) each driving in a run in the frame.
UP NEXT
The Chargers are scheduled to close out their season-opening trip to Myrtle Beach on Sunday with a single game on the docket against Concordia. First pitch from the Ripken Sports Center is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
