WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team picked up their 12th win of the season by defeating the Bridgeport Purple Knights by the score of 10-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

Bridgeport 2, New Haven 10 (9 Innings)

After dropping their final three games of their weekend series with the Pace Setters, the Chargers called on southpaw Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth), who made his first start of the season, to steer the team back in the right direction.

Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) made a dazzling diving catch in center field to start the game off. Despite a throwing error allowing a runner to reach with one-out, the graduate faced no issues in the first as he was able to force the ball in the air to get the final two outs.

Offense was clicking from the start for New Haven as Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) kicked things off by drawing a leadoff walk. After successfully stealing second, the freshman was advanced to third base on a ground ball. All it took was one pitch for outfielder Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) to deliver the run as he was able to poke one up the middle.

Guarino recorded the first two outs of the second inning on only five pitches before allowing a double to deep straight away center. The runner was left stranded on the bases as a popup to shallow left field was enough to retire the side.

Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) picked up where the last inning ended as laced a single to left field to lead off the side. After Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) and Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) reached base on a pair of back-to-back singles, the stage was set for Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell). The senior shortstop put the ball in play as Franquiz beat the tag at second base to add to the lead while keeping the bases juiced. The lone run was all the Chargers would score as a popup ended the threat.

The southpaw recorded his first strikeout of the game in the third inning, catching him looking on a full count. After retiring the side in order, the Chargers suffered a similar fate during their turn at bat.

Despite a lead off double to start the inning for Bridgeport, Guarino caught the next man swinging to pick up the first out. A triple down the right field line plated one run for the Purple Knights. Another run came across as the man on first, who reached on a walk, was caught stealing in a run down.

With the game knotted up at two apiece, Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) laced a single to center field. On the first pitch, Boag single to center field, as well, before both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Maucere, the team RBI leader, added another two to his season total as he singled through the right side.

Although he forced a one pitch groundout to the lead off man, after allowing a single, Guarino's outing came to an end as Gary Costello (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) headed to the mound. In his first start of the campaign, Guarino allowed only four hits and one walk through 4.1 innings while striking out three. Costello recorded the final two outs in the inning with a swinging strikeout to cap it off.

Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) drew a five pitch walk with one out before taking off for second base. His 15 walks on the season is tied with Maucere for most on the team as he stands alone with five steals.

The Purple Knights lead off the top of the sixth with a single to left field but Costello remained focused, retiring the next three batters in order with two going down on strikes.

The Chargers threatened in the sixth inning, as well. With one out, Boag roped a single to the left center gap, his third hit of the game, before Franquiz drew a walk to put two runners on. Despite both runners advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch, the pair would be left stranded.

Costello faced some early trouble in the seventh inning after allowing a single and a walk but was able to get the punch out before yielding the mound to Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack). After getting the second out on a fielder's choice, Silverman kept the run off the board with some help from Maucere, who made the catch while crashing into the outfield wall.

The right-handed junior escape trouble again in the eighth by picking up the swinging strikeout with two outs after allowing a hit and hitting a batter.

Entering the bottom of the eighth, Lester started the effort by drawing a walk with a full count. Lester would score from first after Boag reached base on a throwing error by the catcher. The Chargers loaded the bases after Franquiz reached on another error and Maucere drew a walk. With no outs, Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) squeaked one through the left side to bring in one run before Taylor would plate another on an RBI groundout. As Wells drew another walk, the fourth ball got away from the catcher, allowing Maucere to score. Budzik then came home on a throwing error after Wells stole second base. The sixth and final run in the inning came from Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford), who reached base on a hard hit ball to third base.

With a comfortable lead, Kevin McNiff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) was called on to close things out in the contest as he put the Purple Knights away in order while catching the final batter looking.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will close out their home stand with a weekend series against the Southern New Hampshire Penmen. First pitch for Saturday's game is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Frank Vieira Field.