CARY, N.C. – The New Haven baseball team grabbed a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Jefferson on Saturday afternoon, before falling 5-4 in the late innings to Clarion in the nightcap. Freshman Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) went 3-for-6 in the two games, including delivering a key two-run single in the sixth inning against Jefferson. Senior James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) had two hits and scored twice on the day and senior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) knocked in three runs, including two to tie the game in the eighth inning against Clarion.  Junior Brendon Malouf (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) picked up the win in relief and junior Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) earned his second save of the season in game one with two shutdown innings out of the bullpen. The Chargers now sit at 5-2 on the season heading into Sunday's final game of the weekend.

GAME ONE

Junior Devon DiMascio (Mansfield, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) got the ball against Jefferson for his second start of the season and went toe to toe with six different Rams pitchers, who all threw up zeroes through the first six innings. DiMascio took a no-decision after allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four over 6.1 innings of work.

The Chargers left one man on base in each of the first two innings, then threatened in the third before stranding runs at the corners.

Jefferson's first threat of the game came in the sixth after an error, single, and stolen base put runners at second and third with two outs, but DiMascio came back to get a ground ball and escaped the inning on a nice play up the middle by second baseman James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East).

After the Chargers put two on with two out in the bottom of the sixth without scoring, Jefferson broke through for game's first runs in the seventh. DiMascio was lifted after issuing back-to-back walks with one out. Malouf came in and surrendered a two-run double before escaping the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

The Chargers answered in a big way in the home half of the inning, with the bottom of the order promptly loading the bases with nobody out. Rob Giovanelli (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) was hit by a pitch leading off, and Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and Myers followed with singles. Budik then stepped in and slapped a two-run single to left field to tie the game, and Myers raced all the way around from first after the ball was misplayed by the left fielder to take the 3-2 lead.

LaManna entered the game to start the eighth, working around a two-out hit in the eighth and mowing down the side in order in the ninth to secure New Haven's fifth straight win.

GAME TWO

Clarion jumped on New Haven for a run in the first inning after a walk and two singles. The Golden Eagles tacked on two more in the third, one of which was unearned, to take a 3-0 lead. Clarion added another run in the fifth inning off starter Dominic Rutigliano (Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey). Sophomore Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) came on in relief with no outs in the fifth inning and threw the final five innings for New Haven, surrendering just one run one five hits while striking out seven.

The Chargers bats were kept silent by Clarion starter Jeremy Frazier, who retired the first 14 batters he faced, until Giovanelli drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth.

Myers broke through with New Haven's first hit leading off the sixth. Budzik followed with a walk, and two batters later, Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) notched a two-run double to left field, scoring Myers and Budzik to cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

Guarino retired the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Budzik continued the Chargers rally with a one-out infield single, then stole second base. Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) followed with a line shot back through the middle to advance Budzik to third. After a strikeout, Garcia stepped in and lined a two-run double down the right field line to plate both runners and tie the game at four.

Guarino came back out for the ninth and got two quick outs before allowing a triple to left-center field. Alex Ficorilli stepped up and after fouling off several pitches, looped a two-strike single into shallow right field to plate the eventual winning run. Clarion (7-7) sealed the non-region win with three strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth.

The Chargers will cap their North Carolina swing on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a matchup against Saint Thomas Aquinas.