DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - The University of New Haven baseball team erased a four run deficit after the first inning to beat the Mercy Mavericks, 5-4, on the road and complete the season sweep. Cain homered for the second time in the last three games while Taylor continues to rack up hits.

New Haven 5, Mercy 4 (9 Innings)
Entering the midweek matchup on a three-game losing streak, the Chargers turned to Kevin McNiff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), who made his first start of the season, to right the ship against the Mercy Mavericks on the road. With a season sweep on the line, however, the Mavericks came out firing taking an early 4-0 lead.

The Chargers would immediately see a man on base to begin the game after Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) drew a walk, his 23rd of the season but nothing would come of it as a double play cleared the diamond. The Mavs struck first after the leadoff man reached on a single to shortstop before successfully stealing second. The runner advanced on a bunt single but was plated anyway on a three-run homerun to left field. A second consecutive homerun put the Mavericks out in front by four runs before McNiff settled down to record the first two outs, one of which was a strikeout. After a two-out walk, the runner was nabbed on his way to second on a head's up throw from Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague).

Looking to get the Chargers on the board, all it took was one pitch for Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) to cut into the deficit as he drove one to left field. The senior utility man tallied his second homerun in the past three games as he's batted 4-9 (.444) in that span.

Brushing off the troubling first inning, McNiff retired the batters in order in his return to the rubber. After forcing two outs in seven pitches, the senior righty recorded a swinging strikeout to end the side.

Wells reached base for the second time in the game after lacing a double to left field but a groundout would leave the junior outfielder stranded, once again. McNiff kept the Mavericks off the board despite allowing a one-out walk as the runner would be doubled up on a groundout to shortstop.

Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery), who racked up a six hit weekend against Le Moyne, poked a single through the left side to lead off the top of the fourth. Cain laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Taylor into scoring position but the Chargers couldn't bring the runner home for the second straight inning.

McNiff found his groove heading into the bottom half of the inning, forcing a fly out to the lead off man. Much like last inning, McNiff was backed up by the defense who turned a 5-4-3 double play after the senior allowed a one-out walk.

The Chargers went down in order during the top of the fifth but Matthew Minio (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), who entered in relief of McNiff, tossed a shutout inning of his own. The freshman forced two quick outs, one of which was on the first pitch, before striking out the final man of the inning.

Leading off the top of the sixth, Wells found open grass in the right center gap for a double, his second of the afternoon. Wells didn't have to wait long as Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) was able to plate the runner on a single to right field before advancing to second on the throw. Taylor roped a single to center field but a fielding error would allow the center fielder to reach second base. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, Cain drove in a run on an RBI groundout to second. Taylor, who advanced to third on the groundout, later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at four. The Chargers continued to threaten after Brett Reedy (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) drew a walk following Lester's two-out single down the left field line. The final out would come after a pitching change but Minio returned to a whole new ballgame.

The Mavericks didn't go down easy after the the four run inning from New Haven. Mercy began to threaten after racking up two singles to leadoff the bottom half of the sixth, both of which advanced into scoring position before the first out. After forcing a popup to shortstop, Minio caught the next batter swinging which became a doubleplay as Lester caught the runner coming home.

Gary Costello (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) inherited the mound after a 1-2-3 inning from the Charger's offense. The senior punched out the first batter before recording the final two outs of the inning to retire the Mavericks in order, as well.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) singled through the left side to get on base. Lester hammered a double to left center field, his second hit of the game, to plate Bianco for the go-ahead run.

Despite allowing a walk to the leadoff man, Guarino forced a groundout back to the mound after a sacrifice bunt. With a runner in scoring position, a groundout to third base ended the threat and kept New Haven's lead in tact.

Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth after a scoreless inning from the Chargers, looking to protect a one-run lead and secure the victory. After forcing a fly out to center field, the junior closer yielded two consecutive walks. A fielder's choice would nab the runner at second but advanced the runner to third with two outs. Silverman was undetered, however, forcing a popup to second for the Charger's win.

Taylor, who was one of three Chargers with two hits in the effort, has now hit safely in 12 of his past 13 games. Wells tallied two doubles on the afternoon, following up his first collegiate homerun in his last game. Lester, another batter with two hits, also recorded a double as he and Wells have each racked up four on the season. Cain's homerun in the second inning was his third of the year, tying Bianco for a team high.

On the mound, McNiff allowed four hits and three walks across 4.0 innings while striking out two. All four hits, two of which were homeruns, came in the first inning suring the senior's first start of the season. Minio, who relieved McNiff, only allowed two hits in the two innings that he pitched while punching out two, as well. The win, however, was credited to Costello, who tossed two shutout innings, only allowing one base runner from a walk.

Silverman picked up his sixth save of the year as he ranks first in the NE10. The junior closer owns a 2.33 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP through 19.1 innings pitched while striking out 20 batters.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will head to Adelphi with a 16-11 record as they face the Panthers over the weekend in a four game series. The start time for the Friday and Saturday doubleheaders is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Bonomo Field in Garden City, N.Y.