Game 1 - New Haven 0, Wilmington 8 (9 Innings)

The Chargers nearly avoided a 1-2-3 inning to start the weekend off as first baseman Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) doubled with one out before being left stranded on third after a strikeout ended the inning.

Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) started on the hill for New Haven as he punched out the first batter he faced. Pazulski struck out a batter with runners on the corners and two outs after allowing a walk and single.

New Haven went down the way of the K in the second inning with all three batters striking out. Pazulski forced a 1-2-3 inning of his own, striking out the latter two batters after forcing a ground out to start.

The Chargers started the third inning on a good note with Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) reaching base on a single before Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) poked one through the right side to put runners on first and second with one out. A groundball double play would put an end to effort as the game remained scoreless.

Wilmington pulled ahead first after the leadoff man, who reached on a single to third, would be plated on an RBI double down the left field line with two outs. Pazulski struck out a batter with runners on the corners to escape with minimum damage.

After going down in order in the top of the fourth, Pazulski rebounded with another scoreless inning after stranding a runner on third. The runner reached base on a walk before advancing to second on a sac bunt then third on a balk before Puzulski forced two final outs including a strikeout.

Once again, the Chargers had a promising start to the inning as Aaron Soucy (Brooklyn, Conn./The Pomfret School) doubled down the line in the leadoff at-bat. Two groundouts and a strikeout left Soucy in scoring position as the Chargers remained without a run.

The Wilcats left another runner in scoring position after a batter reached base on a fielder's choice before successfully stealing second. Puzulski once again clutched up, punching out the batter with two outs.

Wells led off the sixth inning with a single to short before stealing second. A grounder would allow the junior outfielder to reach third where he would be left standing after a strike out ended the threat.

Pazulski handed the mound over to Kevin McNiff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), who began his 2021 campaign with a hit batter. McNiff allowed another walk after forcing a grounder for the first out of the inning but a wild pitch would advance both runners. McNiff caught the next batter swinging before the Wildcats broke open the game after a pair of singles brought in three runs. 

New Haven strung together two base runners after Soucy walked and Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) was hit by a pitch. A strikeout and a ground out would once again leave runners on the bases as the team continued to get close.

McNiff started the bottom of the seventh with a strikeout before allowing a one out single up the middle. The following batter got the better of McNiff as he rounded the bases on a two-run homerun to right center. The senior righty forced back-to-back outs, including a swinging strikeout, to close out the inning.

Despite a leadoff walk from Wells, the Chargers offense continued to struggle to plate the man on base as a double-play would clean the diamond.

Senior Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) took the rubber to start the bottom of the eighth but like McNiff allowed his first batter to reach on a walk. The walk was followed by a fielder's choice to shortstop in which case both runners were safe. A sac fly would bring home one but a throwing error on the play would result in a second runner to cross home plate.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, Soucy reached base on a fielding error by the shortstop. The Chargers would load the bases after Chiaro single and Franquiz reached on another error by the shortstop. A fielder's choice would stop New Haven's hopes at breaking a shutout as Franquiz called out on an unassisted play at second.
 

After a 1-2-3 inning for both sides in the first, the first baserunners for either side came for Pace in the top of the second. An infield single, hit by pitch, and a walk loaded the bases for the Setters with two outs, before Cain worked his way out of the jam getting the next batter to fly out to right field to end the inning.
 

Game 2 - New Haven 0, Wilmington 2 (7 Innings)

Senior right-hander Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) got the nod for the Chargers to start game two with senior Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) behind the dish. Eletto would get the Wildcats to go down in order to open the game, eventually closing out his day throwing six scoreless innings, while surrendering six hits.

After Eletto struck out two of the three batters he faced in the opening inning, the Chargers put pressure on the opposition right away. Bianco drew a one-out walk to reach base before making his way to third on a Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) double. Just like game one, the Chargers could pull the trigger as back-to-back outs left two on base.

After another 1-2-3 inning from the senior, Lester and Brett Reedy (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) reached first on a error by the shortstop. Wells walk with two outs would load the bases but nothing came about as a fly out would neutralize the opportunity.

Eletto allowed one hit in each of the next three innings while punching out three, as well. The Chargers went down in order during the third and fourth innings but Cain broke the streak by reaching on a hit by pitch. The designated hitter was caught stealing second before a pair of fly outs finished off the inning.

The senior righty caught the first batter swinging to start the sixth inning but after a runner reached on a error, the Wilmington one spot hitter would make him pay with a homerun to left field.

Eletto faced trouble in the top of the seventh after the Blue and Gold went down in order in the bottom of the sixth. A single and a double put runners in scoring position for the Wildcats but Eletto extinguished the effort after the runner was called out at third following a strikeout.

In their final inning, the Chargers's six through eight hitters faced a similar fate, all going down by way of the K as fell to the Wildcats 0-2.

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Up next, the Chargers will take on the Chestnut Hill Griffins tomorrow for day two in Myrtle Beach as they look for their first win on the young season.