West Haven, CT - In a back and forth affair that saw the lead change hands four times, it was the third-seeded Chargers who would walk off Frank Vieira Field winners, literally, as UNH extended its season with a 4-3 NE10 Southwest Division first-round win over sixth-seed Pace on Tuesday afternoon.

Tied 3-3 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) singled to left field to start the inning. He advanced to second base on a balk. Aaron Soucy (Brooklyn, Conn./The Pomfret School) (Brookly, CT/The Pomfret School) was then intentionally walked. Then, things got interesting.

Pace pitcher Thomas Ippolito made an errant pickoff throw to second base, allowing Huber to advance to third base. The Setters then intentionally walked Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) (Seaford, NY/Seaford) to load the bases with no outs. Jack Reardon (Commack. N.Y./Commack) (Commack, NY/Commack) then lined into a double play when Cain was caught too far off second base.

In stepped Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) to play the role of hero. He hit a ground ball down the first base line that was fielded by Pace first baseman Miles Kelly. But, Budzik hustled down the line and beat Ippolito to the bag allowing Huber to score the game-winning run.

UNH, which has now won the last two against Pace this season after dropping the first five games between the two teams, took an early 1-0 lead when Soucy doubled home Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) (Soutington, CT/Southington) in the second inning. 

That lead didn't last long as Pace answered with a two-run third inning, highlighted by a Matt Almonte RBI single to give the Setters a 2-1 lead.

The Chargers tied the game when Cain drove home Huber with an infield single to knot the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Pace jumped back out in front taking a 3-2 lead when Matt McCabe homered to center field with one out in the top of the sixth inning. That was the last run Pace would score as Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) (Falmouth, ME) and Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown East) combined to score three scoreless innings.

That allowed the blue and gold offense to work its magic. They pulled even in the seventh inning when Budzik singled home Cain, who had singled with one out to start the rally.

That set up the wild and wooly ninth inning that saw the Chargers walk off winners with only one ball hit reaching the outfield grass. That was Huber's lead off single.

Budzik, Cain, and Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) (Danville, VT/St. Johnsbury Academy) each had two hits for the Chargers. Budzik added a pair of RBIs, while Huber scored two runs, including the game winner.

Starting pitcher Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) (Locust Valley, NY/Locust Valley) was effective. He scattered five hits and allowed two runs in five innings of work. He was relieved by Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) (Media, PA/Cardinal O'Hara), who allowed one run in his two innings on the mound. LaManna would earn the win with his 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. It was his third win of the season. He allowed two hits and struck out one.

UP NEXT

UNH (9-9) advances to the second round of the NE10 Southwest Division playoffs where they will travel to Syracuse to face second-seed Le Moyne. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm on Thursday, May 13.  Ironically, New Haven and Le Moyne have not played this season. They had doubleheaders scheduled for March 28 and May 5. However, both were postponed. The winner of that game advances to the best of three Southwest Division Championship Series starting Sunday, May 17. AIC and Adelphi play in the other semifinal game.