WEST HAVEN, Conn. – A two-run single in the eighth inning from senior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) helped the New Haven baseball team rally for a big 2-1 victory over Southern Connecticut State on Tuesday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. Junior Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) picked up three of New Haven's eight hits, going 3-for-4 on the day, and junior Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Garcia's two RBI came with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Sophomore Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) pitched six innings, allowing just one hit, one unearned run and one walk while striking out six in a no decision. The win moves New Haven to 8-9 on the season and an even 2-2 in NE10 play.
The Charger's pitching staff allowed just one hit through the first seven innings, as Mestre and Southern starter Nate Carney went toe-to-toe on the mound. Christopher Leindecker (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) had a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning, and Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) struck out three over two innings of relief to earn the win.
The game remained scoreless into the third inning, when Southern struck for an unearned run on a sacrifice fly following a pair of New Haven errors to take a 1-0 lead.
Southern picked up its first hit of the game with two down in the fourth, but Mestre came back with a strikeout looking to end the frame, and then set the Owls down in order in the fifth. SCSU threatened once more in the sixth without the benefit of a hit following a walk, error and catcher's interference to load the bases with one out. But Mestre and the Chargers defense responded, first with Mestre getting strikeout on an off speed pitch for the second out, then shortshop Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) made a sensational play on a ground ball in the hole, sliding to his right and backhanding the ball before firing to third from his knees to force out the runner at third, keeping it a one-run game.
The Chargers put a runner on base in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to push any runs across. After Leindecker came on in relief in the seventh and retired the side in order, the Chargers used a hit batsman and an error to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, but Carney picked up a big strikeout for Southern to end the inning.
LaManna picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the eighth inning after SCSU loaded the bases with one out. The Chargers finally broke through in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Huber led off with a single through the left side, Chamberlain then legged out a bunt single and Rob Giovanelli (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) rallied to work a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Garcia then stepped up and smashed a hard ground ball to the left side that deflected off the shortstop into left-center field, plating Huber and Chamberlain for a two-run single that gave New Haven a 2-1 lead.
LaManna came back out for the ninth inning, and retired the side in order, culminating when Garcia made a fine backhanded scoop on a low throw to end the game.
The Chargers will have a quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon with a non-conference game at Seaside Park against Bridgeport. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m.
