April 18, 2021

Chargers Belt Out 13 Hits; Score 12 Runs in Slugfest Win Over Saint Rose

Albany. NY - The wait was worth it for the New Haven baseball team. 

After waiting nearly two weeks to play a game, the Blue and Gold swung the bats with authority in a 12-9 series-opening NE10 Southwest Division win over Saint Rose at Bob Bellizzi Field in Albany on Sunday afternoon.

While the Chargers collected 13 hits and 11 RBI's, it was a run-producing groundout from Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) (Amityville, NY/Copiague) that scored Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) (Danville, VT/St. Johnsbury Academy) with the go-ahead to stay run. UNH took a 10-9 lead in the seventh inning on this play.

It was the third time the Blue and Gold rallied in the game.

Saint Rose plated three runs in their half of the first inning off New Haven starter Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) (Pittsfield, MA/Taconic). However, the Chargers would tie the game in their next at bat. Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) (Seaford, NY/Seaford) tripled home Lester, Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) (Wolcott, CT/Gunnery), and Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) (Southington, CT/Southington) to tie the game.

UNH (3-3, 3-1 NE10) fell behind 5-3, but it was another bases-clearing triple that would give UNH its first lead. Wells brought home Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge), Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell), and Jack Reardon (Commack. N.Y./Commack) (Commack, NY/Commack)to give the Chargers a 6-5 lead. That lead would double when Chiaro hit a sac fly to score Wells.

However, Saint Rose (2-7, 2-7) rallied and scored four runs in their half of the fifth inning to re-take the lead at 9-7.

But, the Chargers would not be denied. Huber and Wells singled, with Huber scoring on a wild pitch to pull UNH within 9-8. Chiaro then garnered another RBI with a single that plated Wells to tie the game. Lester then gave UNH the lead for good with his RBI groundout and the Chargers led 10-9.

The Chargers tacked on some insurance runs with a two-run inning in the top of the ninth. Taylor doubled home Bianco and Chiaro who had led off the inning with hits.

That was all the support Charger relievers Gary Costello (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) and Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) would need. Costelle collected a clean seventh inning. LaManna recorded three strikeouts over his two innings in relief. Saint Rose did bring the tying run to the plate in their last at-bat, however, LaManna got Tyler Osbourne to pop out to end the game.

Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth) picked up the win in relief of Mestre. He pitched 1.2 innings and collected the last out in the sixth inning, just before UNH exploded for three runs to take the lead for good.

Huber, Wells, Chiaro, and Taylor had two hits each. Wells and Cain led the way with three RBIs apiece, both on clutch bases-clearing triples.

NEXT ON TAP

UNH and Saint Rose will battle again in a doubleheader in Albany, NY. First pitch is slated for Noon at Bob Bellizzi Field. Both games will be seven inning-affairs. Live coverage of the series will be available on the Chargers Sports Network on NE10 NOW with live stats available on NewHavenChargers.com.