THE LEAD
The New Haven baseball team will make its diamond debut, returning to the field for the first time since March 2020, when they welcome the Pace Setters to Frank Vieira Field on Sunday. First pitch of the double-dip is slated for 12:00 p.m. with first pitch of game two to follow the conclusion of game one by approximately 30 minutes. All the action from Vieira Field will be broadcast live on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW.
2021 FAN POLICY FOR HOME GAMES
With the primary goal of keep those within the University Community safe, UNH will not be allowing fans from outside of the campus community at any athletic event. Any student, faculty or staff member attending an athletic contest must prove clearance in CoVerified upon arrival. Athletic facilities will be subject to State capacity limitations and spectators must abide University by masking and social distancing guidelines at all times. This policy includes all venues on the University's main campus and the North Campus athletic facilities and parking lots. Tailgating outside of venues is also prohibited. UNH will continue to monitor the pandemic and will adjust the policy should the opportunity exist. While this policy is in place, the Department of Athletics will make every effort to broadcast all home games on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW. For a list of upcoming broadcasts Click Here.
SERIES HISTORY VS PACE
In a series that dates back to the early years of New Haven baseball, New Haven and Pace will meet for the 47th time with the Blue and Gold holding a 28-18 record in the series. The first meeting between the two squads came during the 1972 campaign with New Haven taking a 2-1 victory on May 13. In the most recent meetings, the Setters took two of three games during the 2019 NE10 Northeast Divisional series with New Haven's lone victory in the set coming by a 7-1 margin at Vieira Field.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
The New Haven baseball team managed to get a pair of southern trips in before the season was suspended due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, earning a 4-4 record in the eight games before the shutdown. The Chargers opened up the year with a 3-1 record, including an 8-2 victory at the Ripken ports Complex in Myrtle Beach, S.C. After a two-week hiatus, the Chargers returned south playing four games at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C. where they finished 1-3 with the victory coming against Saint Thomas Aquinas. Through those eight games, New Haven was led by rising junior Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) and rising senior Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) who combined for 21 of the Chargers 67 total hits. On the hill, rising sophomore Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) led the starting rotation with a 2.25 ERA. In 12 innings of work he allowed three earned runs and struck out a staff-high 10 batters.
SCOUTING THE SETTERS
Pace will return to the diamond for the fourth time this season when they enter Vieira Field on Sunday. The Setters hold a 2-1 record overall with victories over American International and Adelphi in non-divisional match-ups. Overall, the Setters are outscoring their first three opponents 22-12. Through the first three games, Pace is led by a pair of seniors Matt Almonte and Dean DePreta, who have each scattered five hits, including a home run for Almote and a double and triple off of DePreta's bat. The pair have also knocked in six total runs with DePreta leading the way with four, while redshirt junior Miles Kelly leading the team with six RBI. On the hill, three different players have earned the decisions with junior Michael Roll leading the rotation with a 2.25 earned run average. In his four innings of work in the win over AIC, Roll surrendered one run on four hits and struck out a team-high nine batters.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
As recently announced by the league, the NE10 adopted a divisional format for 2021 – Northeast and Southwest – with all schools slated to play a 24-game conference schedule. Series will consist of four games on weekends in doubleheader format, while schools maintain the ability to extend the weekend series to three days or alter the days in which they play in accordance with academic calendars. New Haven will play in the Southwest Division which is made up of seven teams including Adelphi, American International, Le Moyne, Pace, Saint Rose and Southern Connecticut. In addition to its 24-game conference schedule, New Haven will play three non-divisional dates, including one date against a Northeast Division opponent, Saint Anselm, bringing their total scheduled games for 2021 to 29.
CHARGERS FIFTH IN PRESEASON POLL
In a poll of the conference's 14 head coaches, the New Haven baseball team was selected to finish fifth, among the seven teams in the Southwest Division. The Chargers received 56 points, three shy of a third place tie with Pace and Southern Connecticut. Adelphi and Le Moyne hold the top two positions in the preseason poll, with the Panthers earning 86 points and eight first place votes. Le Moyne garnered 74 points and three first place votes. Southern New Hampshire was a near unanimous choice to win the Northeast Division earning 12 of the 14 possible first place votes and a total of 90 points.
NEW HAVEN REGIONALLY RANKED TO OPEN 2021 SEASON
In the weekly tally conducted by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, New Haven was ranked seventh in the East Region Poll. The poll, which is voted on by a nine-member panel, ranks the top-10 teams in the East Region which is made up of three conferences; The Northeast-10, the East Coast Conference and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Southern New Hampshire was the unanimous No. 1 team in the most recent poll and leads a group of four Northeast-10 teams that make up the top-four in the poll.
UP NEXT
New Haven will return to the diamond next weekend when they open up NE10 Divisional play, hosting the Le Moyne Dolphins for a four-game set. The series will take place in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28. First pitch on both days is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with all the action broadcast live on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW. Live stats will also be available via NewHavenChargers.com.
