WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The hero in game one and adding an RBI in game two, rookie left fielder Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) led the New Haven baseball team in a sweep of Mercy as the Blue and Gold opened their 2022 home schedule with the pair of victories. Maucere provided a one-out walk-off single in the opening game of the day before adding the Chargers lone RBI in game two.
With the twin bill sweep, the Chargers improve to 7-3 on the season while Mercy falls to 3-12 overall.
Game 1: New Haven 5, Mercy 4 (8 Innings)
Freshman Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) was the savior in the opening game after the Chargers forced extra innings tying the score in the bottom of the sixth when Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) stole home on a delayed double steal. Maucere would then knock in Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) in the bottom of the eighth on a one-out single to right field after Taylor doubled one batter earlier and stole third to put himself 90 feet away.
The Chargers would have to work from behind for the victory after surrendering four runs in the top of the third inning, including three on a home run from Nolan Giblin.
Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) would begin the comeback for the Blue and Gold when he went yard with for a two-run shot to left field plating Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) who led off the inning with a double up the middle. The Chargers would add one more run in the fifth to cut the deficit to one with Maucere earning an RBI on an infield groundout.
Bianco's stolen base to tie the game came in the sixth inning to tie the game at four with Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) helping make that game-tying run possible. With runners on the corners, Budzik took off for second forcing a rundown. With the attention on Budzik, Bianco took off for home and beat the throw to the plate with a slide to the outside of the plate.
After a scoreless seventh inning for both teams, the Chargers stranded one Mercy runner on in the top of the eighth before scoring the game-winning run in the bottom half of the inning. With one out in the books, Taylor doubled to left field to begin the rally. After he stole third, Maucere hit a blooper into right field, just to the left of the fielder falling and allowing Taylor to score standing up.
Cain would lead the Chargers at the plate for the game, finishing a perfect 3-of-3 with a pair of RBI which came on his two run homer. Overall, Cain was one of three players to finish with a multi-hit outing among the 11 total hits for New Haven. He was joined by Budzik and Taylor who each finished with a pair.
On the hill, Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) earned the victory, his second of the season. The senior righty pitched a complete game for the Blue and Gold, surrendering three earned runs among the four he gave up. Overall, Eletto gave up just five hits across his eight innings of work while he struck out seven batters and did not surrender a walk.
Game 2: New Haven, Mercy
The Chargers would carry the momentum of the walk-off into game two, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. A leadoff single up the middle from Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) put the Mavericks on their toes right out of the gates. Wells would then take off on the basepaths, stealing second and advancing to third on the same play when the throw down trickled into center.
Mercy starter Anthony Burgio then surrendered walks to three of the next four batters, the later of which earned an RBI for Maucere on the bases loaded free pass. Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park), who was the first of those walks issued, would then score on a wild pitch out of Burgio's hand.
The two first innings runs were the only needed for the Blue and Gold who surrendered just a single run to the Mavericks, that coming in the fifth inning, an unearned run that crossed the plate by virtue of a throwing error.
Starting pitcher Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) earned the victory in game two, his second of the season. The junior right hander threw five innings, surrendering just the single unearned run while giving up six hits and striking out seven batters. Junior Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) would close out the game for New Haven, earning his third save of the season.
Next on Tap
Following a weekend with plans disrupted due to impending inclement weather, the Chargers will return to the diamond for the first of two-straight games against in-state rival Bridgeport on Tuesday, March 15. First pitch at Seaside Park against the Purple Knights is slated for 3:00 p.m. Check NewHavenChargers.com and @UNewHavenBase on Twitter and Instagram for any potential schedule changes.
