EASTON, Mass. – The New Haven baseball team pounded out 25 hits and scored 20 runs en route to a doubleheader split at Stonehill on Sunday, falling 15-9 in game one before winning the nightcap 11-5. Sophomore Rob Giovanelli (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) and senior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) each went 4-for-8 in the two games, with Garcia driving in four runs and scoring three more. Giovanelli tallied three RBIs of his own, all coming in game two. Junior Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) went 4-for-9 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a walk, including a 3-for-4 showing in game one. Junior Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) and freshman Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) each went 3-for-7 on the day and walked three times apiece. On the mound, freshman Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) picked up his second win of the season, starting game two and hurling five innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three and walking just one. The split moves the Chargers to 10-12 (4-4 NE10) on the season.
GAME ONE
The Chargers pounded out 12 hits and scored nine runs in the opener, but the Skyhawks did most of their damage in the third and fourth innings, during which they scored 12 of their 15 runs and collected 10 of their 16 hits. Stonehill also picked up two hits to plate an early run in the first inning.
New Haven drew even in the top of the third when Grzenda led off the inning with a single and came in to score three batters later on a single down the right field line by Chamberlain. Huber followed with a walk to load the bases with one out, but two straight popups on the infield ended the inning.
Stonehill busted the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the third, sending 10 men to the plate by way of six hits and two walks, including a two run homer to take an 8-1 lead.
George Pappas (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) got one back for the Chargers in the top of the fourth, clubbing a one-out triple to center field, then came home on a sac fly by Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro).
Stonehill extended the lead with another big inning in the last of the fourth, scoring five times on four hits, with the big blow coming on a two-out, three-run double to open up a 13-2 lead.
New Haven continued to chip away, scoring seven runs over the next three innings to get within 13-9 by the seventh inning stretch. The streak began with four runs in the fifth as Budzik and Chamberlain walked, then Huber added an infield single to load the bases with nobody out. After a fly out, Garcia stepped in and connected for a two RBI single through the right side. Boag added a RBI knock to left field, and Grzenda added a two-out RBI single down the left field line to make it 13-6.
The Chargers struck for two more in the sixth to make it 13-8 when Chamberlain drove his team-leading fifth home run of the year over the right field fence. The two run shot also scored Budzik, who had led off the inning with a single.
New Haven drew three straight walks to open the seventh inning. After pitching change and a force out at the plate, Huber manufactured a run on a fielder's choice to get the Chargers within four, but Stonehill padded its lead with two insurance runs in the eighth to push the lead to 15-9.
GAME TWO
New Haven jumped on the board early with two runs in the first inning of the nightcap. Chamberlain drew a walk with one out and came home to score on a double by Garcia. Giovanelli followed with a RBI single to plate Garcia to build the 2-0 advantage.
Stonehill cut the lead in half with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Each team picked up one hit in each of the next two innings, but were kept off the board. New Haven pushed across a run in the top of the sixth when Huber came across on an error.
Stonehill got the run right back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a single and triple to start the frame to cut the Chargers' lead to 3-2.
The Chargers were able to create some breathing room with a four-run top of the seventh inning spurred by three hits and a pair of Stonehill errors. Huber plated James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) with a RBI single to left field, Garcia followed by scoring Budzik with a sacrifice fly, and Giovanelli followed with a clutch two-run double to extend the lead to 7-2.
The Skyhawks refused to go away, using a pair of RBI singles to plate two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh. Pappas led off the eighth for New Haven with a single, and advanced to third before Chamberlain was intentionally walked. Both runners came in to score on a throwing error by the pitcher to extend the lead to 9-4.
New Haven tacked on two more in the top of the ninth with the help of a RBI single by Grzenda. Boag, who walked earlier in the inning, later came across on a throwing error to help the Chargers pull off the 11-5 win.
New Haven will return to Vieira Field for a key midweek NE10 divisional matchup on Wednesday afternoon against Pace. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on the Chargers Sports Network/ NE10 NOW.
