Game 1 - Pace 3, New Haven 1 (7 Innings)

After taking the first game of the series, the Chargers sent Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) out to start game one of the doubleheader. The junior right-hander made quick work of the leadoff man, striking him out, before allowing a two-out double to right field. With a runner in scoring position, Pazulski caught the clean up man swinging to get out of the inning.

The Chargers would record a two-out hit of their own in the first inning, coming by way of a single to third base by Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery). A strikeout would the side for New Haven, however, so no runs came across for either team.

A leadoff walk threatened the Chargers in the top of the second but Pazulski forced two outs to keep the Setters off the board after a sac bunt advanced the runner to second. New Haven couldn't put a man on base as the offense went down in order, including two foul outs.

With one away, the Setters singled to center on the first pitch before a fielder's choice kept the runner off second. A first pitch fly out to straight away center field was enough to retire the side.

Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) crushed a double over the left fielder's head, his fifth extra base hit of the season, to get in scoring position with two outs but a ground out sent New Haven back on defense empty handed.

In a hitter's count with one gone, the Setters recorded another double, this time to left field. Pazulski wouldn't budge, forcing two fly balls, to strand the lone man on base.

New Haven started the bottom of the fourth with potential to pull ahead as the Taylor poked one up the middle to lead it off. A sac bunt from Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) and a ground out to the right side allowed Taylor to advance to third base where he would be left stranded on a pop up to second base.

Pazulski continued to rack up shutout innings, despite a runner reaching first on a throwing error in the fifth as the junior forced a grounder to third for a fielder's choice before getting a fly out to end the inning.

The Chargers once again couldn't capatilize with runners on base as Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck), who legged out a single to short, was a part of a double play to resume the scoreless affair.

All it took was one pitch for Pace to break the tie as the leadoff man drove one to deep left field to give the Setters the first lead of the game. Unfazed, Pazulski retired the next three batters with one going down by way of the K.

New Haven did not waste time answering, however, as Maucere drew a four pitch walk to kick off the side. Budzik laid down another sac bunt to advance Maucere to second before a ground out to second would send him to third. With two gone, Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) laced one over the second baseman's glove into the right center gap to plate the runner.

With the game knotted up, yet again, the Setters set the tone for the inning with a lead off double to left field. After a sac bunt advanced the runner, the tie breaker came home on a sac fly to center field. The Setters would load the bases after a hit by pitch and two walks, one being intentional, prior to Kyle Allen (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) taking the hill. A walk would bring home an insurance run before Allen forced a fly out to center to limit the damage.

With a comeback effort in affect, Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) got things started with a single to left field. While a double-play cleared the diamond, Boag drew a walk for another chance but was ultimately left stranded as the Chargers fell to Pace 3-1.

Pazulski allowed five hits and three walks through 6.2 innings while striking out four batters. All three runs that came across were earned as the junior fell to 3-2 on the season. Taylor led New Haven with two hits while Wells recorded the lone RBI in game one.
 

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

After the Charger's dropped the first game of the doubleheader, freshman Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) started on the rubber as rainy weather loomed overhead.

The Setters wasted no time getting on base as the lead off man singled to left field before advancing to second on a failed pickoff attempt. With two outs, Carroll forced the pop up to shortstop to escape any trouble.

After New Haven went down in order, the Setters reached base on a single through the left side after working a full count. The two-out threat would not come to pass as a ground out ended the inning. For the second straight inning, the Chargers were victims of a 1-2-3 inning, this time on four pitches.

With two gone, the Setters threatened, once again, as a two out single up the middle led to a man on third after a successful steal and a throwing error. The freshman escaped the jam by forcing another pop up as the pitching duel extended into the second game.

Despite going down in order again in the bottom of the third, the Chargers finally began to work something after a Taylor single up the middle and a Wells walk put runners on first and second with two outs. An unassisted play at second retired the side as the new remained scoreless.

Both sides went down in 1-2-3 fashion, including a strikeout for each team. The strikeout of the Setters marked the fourth of the game for Carroll. The tie would come to an end in the top of the sixth inning as a lead off single turned into a runner in scoring position after a sac bunt. A two-out single to right center brought home the run before being left stranded on third base.

The Chargers looked for a late stage comeback as they loaded the bases with two outs after Budzik singled and Taylor reached base on a throwing error. Wells drew a four pitch walk to juice the bases but the trio was left on the diamond on a fly out.

Gary Costello (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) relieved Carroll heading into the final inning but faced early adversity. A lead off walk turned into an insurance run after a sac bunt and a single down the left field line plated the runner. 

With one out, Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) reached base on a throwing error before making his way to second. New Haven couldn't string a hit to bring in the run as they fell to the Setters 0-2. The loss drops the Chargers to 11-6 on the season.

Budzik and Taylor were the lone Chargers to record a hit in the second game of the evening.

Carroll allowed four hits and one walk through six innings while striking out four. Despite being credited with the loss, the southpaw only allowed one earned run, as he is now 1-1 on the campaign.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will play one more game against the Pace Setters on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Frank Vieira Field.