SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The New Haven baseball team fell by a score of 12-7 at American International on Sunday afternoon, giving the Yellow Jackets a three-game series sweep. Sophomore George Pappas (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) had a career-high three hits in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with three RBI. Junior Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) was 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI, senior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) had two hits and scored two runs, and senior James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) also tallied two hits with a run scored.
AIC put up a crooked number in the bottom of the first, pounding out seven hits to plate six runs. After a leadoff double and sacrifice bunt, a walk and an infield single gave AIC a 1-0 lead. After a grounder to first base moved runners to second and third with two outs, AIC strung together five consecutive singles, two of which drove in two runs apiece, giving the Yellow Jackets a 6-0 lead after one inning.
The Chargers answered quickly, getting one run back in the top of the second when Pappas drove a RBI double to right center field, scoring Rob Giovanelli (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset), who had led off with a single, to cut the deficit to 6-1.
New Haven picked up one more run in the third after three straight hits. Back to the top of the order, Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) started the rally with an infield single, Myers then wrapped one to left, and Chamberlain roped a double to left field to plate Budzik with the Chargers second run.
After going scoreless in the second and third innings, AIC padded their lead with two runs in the fourth, starting with three straight singles to plate one run, and added a sacrifice fly to make it a six-run game once again at 8-2.
In the sixth inning, Garcia tagged a double to right field, then two batters later, Pappas delivered once more with a two-out knock to center field to score Garcia to get New Haven back within 8-3.
However, the Yellow Jackets provided a quick answer in the bottom of the sixth, blowing the game open with four unearned runs. After a throwing error extended the inning, AIC capitalized with a grand slam to take a 12-3 lead.
New Haven picked up a run in the seventh inning to cut it to 12-4. Chamberlain and Myers delivered back-to-back singles with two outs, with Chamberlain picking up a RBI on a single to left field.
In the eighth, Garcia led off with a single and Noah Fortuna (Plainview, N.Y./St. Anthony's) drew a pinch hit walk. After each advanced on a passed ball, Pappas drove in his third run of the game with a sac fly to right field scoring Garcia for the Chargers' fifth run. New Haven followed with three straight walks, with the third one drawn by Budzik forcing in Fortuna, and two batters later Chamberlain drew another bases loaded pass to force in Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) with New Haven's final run.
The Chargers will kick off a five-game week this coming Tuesday against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at The Ballpark at SCSU.
