May 2, 2021

Baseball Gets Gem on Mound from Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) to Split Doubleheader with Pace

The New Haven baseball team received a virtuoso performance on the mound from Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) (Locust Valley, NY/Locust Valley) to earn a split of their NE10 Southwest Division doubleheader Sunday at Pace in Pleasantville, NY.

The Chargers won the nightcap 6-2, after falling in the opener 6-0.

Eletto threw seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits, and striking out six to earn the win in the nightcap. UNH used a pair of three-run innings to take a 6-0 lead in their eventual four-run win.

Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) was the lone Charger to get a hit in each game. He had three hits and scored on a run on the day. Billy Huber (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) had two hits and a run scored in the nightcap. Six different Chargers scored a run.

Game 1 - Pace 6, New Haven 0

Pace plated runs in four of their six at bats, including two in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. They would go on to add single runs in the third and sixth inning, while also scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the seven-inning game.

The Blue and Gold had a chance to sneak back into this one in the top of the sixth inning. Trailing 5-0, New Haven loaded the bases on two Setters errors and a single by Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) to load the bases. However, Pace escaped by getting a groundout to end that threat.

Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) (Seaford, NY/Seaford) pitched well, but took the loss. He scattered five hits over five innings, while striking out three Pace batters.

Game 2 - New Haven 6, Pace 2

After 11 scoreless innings, the Blue and Gold finally broke through with a three-run fifth inning. Bianco singled and moved to third on a Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) (Wolcott, CT/The Gunnery) double. Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) (Southington, CT/Southington) singled in Bianco for a 1-0 Charger lead. Taylor scored on a failed pickoff attempt to double the lead. Jack Reardon (Commack. N.Y./Commack) (Commack, NY/Commack) then singled home Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) (Amityville, NY/Copiague) to close the scoring that inning for the Chargers.

New Haven doubled that lead plating another three runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Blue and Gold scored those three runs courtesy of one hit and that was a leadoff single by Huber. Reardon walked and then both stole second and third respectively.

Huber then scored on a Pace throwing error, Reardon scored on a wild pitch, and the Chargers would later add a third run on a bases-loaded walk to Taylor for a 6-0 lead.

Eletto would allow that to hold up. In arguably the best performance from a Charger this season, he allowed only five hits and struck out six while not surrendering a run or a walk in seven effective innings.

Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) (Commack, NY/Commack) and Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) would combine to close the game out with two innings of relief.

Bianco and Huber had two hits apiece in the nightcap.

NEXT ON TAP

New Haven returns home for the final two games of the regular season at Frank Vieira Field when they play Southwest Division leader Le Moyne in a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 5. First pitch at 1 pm. The Chargers will then close out the regular season with a non-division doubleheader at Saint Anselm on Saturday, May 8. The first-round of the NE10 playoffs will take place on Tuesday, May 11.