ALBANY, N.Y. – The New Haven baseball team concluded its 2019 season on a high note on Saturday afternoon, pulling off a come-from-behind 6-4 win in game two of a doubleheader against Saint Rose. The two teams provided plenty of fireworks late in both games, with Saint Rose spoiling a three-run ninth for New Haven to win game one in walk-of fashion, while the Chargers scored three times in the seventh inning in game two before holding on for the win. The Chargers end the season at 12-24-1 overall.
Senior Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) went 4-for-10 on the day and picked up the game-winning two-run single in game two, freshman Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) went 3-for-9 on the day with two runs scored and two RBI, which included the game-tying two-run single in the ninth inning of game one, and senior Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) picked up three hits with two runs and a RBI. Junior Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) drove in a pair of runs as part of a two hit day with two runs scored, and freshman Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) had two hits and scored twice while picking up a RBI.
On the mound, senior Christopher Leindecker (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) pitched eight innings in game one, allowing four runs, two earned, on just one walk while striking out a season-high nine batters. Freshman Dominic Rutigliano (Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey) got the win in relief in game two, firing 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out four. Sophomore Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) tossed three scoreless innings for his first career save.
GAME ONE
The Golden Knights struck for two quick runs in the bottom of the first off a walk, two hits and a passed ball. New Haven got one back in the third, staring with a single by Budzik and Myers getting hit by a pitch. Budzik then stole third and came in to score on a ground ball by Chamberlain to cut the deficit in half.
After giving up a single in the second, Leindecker settled in and retired nine in a row before allowing an infield hit in the fifth. He then worked around another one out hit in the sixth and enjoyed a 1-2-3 seventh.
New Haven drew even in the top of the eighth with some two-out magic. Chamberlain kept the inning alive by legging out a hit to shortstop, then went to third on a single through the right side by Garcia. Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) then drew a walk on 3-2 to load the bases, and Chamberlain raced home on a wild pitch to tie the score 2-2.
The Golden Knights countered with a pair of runs (one unearned) in the bottom of the inning on two hits and one error to take a 4-2 lead into the ninth.
But the Chargers fought back, plating three runs in the top of the ninth thanks in part to four consecutive singles to start the frame. Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) and Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) both singled, then advanced on a bunt single by Dylon Grzenda (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) to load the bases with nobody out. Budzik then knocked a two-run single into right field to tie the game, then Garcia reached on an error by the pitcher two batters later to extend the inning, on which the go-ahead run came in to score and give the Chargers the one run cushion.
Unfortunately for New Haven, Saint Rose rallied against the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth to the tune of two hits and three walks for the 6-5 walk-off win.
GAME TWO
Sophomore Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) got the start on the mound in game two and allowed just one baserunner and faced the minimum through the first three innings. He ran into some trouble in the fourth, allowing two hits, sandwiched around an error as two runs crossed the plate in the inning.
New Haven evened things up in the top of the fifth, plating a pair of runs to knot the game 2-2. Freshman Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) singled with one out, then came home on a two-out single by Chiaro. Next up, Grzenda roped a double to center field to plate Chiaro with the tying run.
The Golden Knights got both runs back in the bottom of the inning, starting the frame with a walk and a single, followed up by a two-run triple to right field to take a 4-2 lead.
The Chargers got one back in the sixth inning, when Chamberlain and Garcia tallied consecutive singles to set up runners at the corners with two outs. Chamberlain then raced home and scored on the back end of a double steal to cut the deficit to just one.
New Haven took the lead for good in the top of the seventh with three runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Chamberlain knocked in the tying run with a ground out to second. Next up, Garcia drove a 3-1 pitch into right field to plate Budzik and Grzenda with what proved to be the winning runs.
Saint Rose put two men on base in both the seventh and eighth, but Mestre locked down the win with the three-inning save, ending the Chargers' 13-game winless streak.
