ADELPHI, N.Y. - The University of New Haven baseball team bounced back with a 9-5 win over the Adelphi Panthers in game two of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The win came after the Chargers dropped the opening game of the slate, 5-6.

Game 1 - New Haven 5, Adelphi 6 (9 Innings)
After picking up a 5-4 win over the Mercy Mavericks, the Chargers sent Bryan Puzlaski out to the mound to kick off the four game series with the Panthers.

Following a scoreless first inning from the Chargers, Adelphi threatened early by loading the bases with two outs. The junior forced a fielder's choice to third base for the unassisted out to escape the jam.

The New Haven offense didn't take long to get on the board as Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) led off the top of the second by roping a double to left field. Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) was hit by a pitch before Brett Reedy (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) advances the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Although Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) drove in one run on a sac fly to straight away center, Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) poked a single through the left side to plate a second. 

The leadoff man for the Panthers reached on a single to right field in the bottom of the second before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Despite allowing a two-out walk to put runners on first and second, Pazulski forced a groundout to second to avoid trouble.

The Panthers were finally able to capitalize in the bottom of the third after the Chargers left two men stranded on base. Two doubles followed by three straight walks tied the game at two a piece but a double to left field with two outs, both on Ks, gave the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

After both teams went down in order during the fourth, Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) kicked off the top of the fifth with a triple to center field. All it took was a groundout to second base from Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) to plate the runner.

With two outs to begin the bottom half of the inning, the Panthers pieced together back-to-back singles before both moved into scoring position on a successful double steal. A grounder back to the pitchers mound would end the threat and keep the deficit at one.

Despite leading off with another double, Bianco was called out at second base on an unassisted play by the shortstop after a fly out. 

Adelphi added insurance in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff walk led to a run on a double to right center field. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third base, where he was plated on a sacrifice fly to right field.

After Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) began the eighth inning with a single to right center, Bianco continued his hot hitting with an RBI single through the left side. Taylor has recorded at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 games.

Looking to make a comeback, Franquiz drove a solo shot, his second of the season, to left field with one away to once again cut the deficit to one. Despite a two out single from Budzik, the comeback effort fell short as the Chargers dropped game one, 5-6.

Pazulski, who allowed six hits and five walks across 2.2 innings while striking out three, took the loss in the game. Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) entered in relief for Pazulski in the third inning and yielded five hits and one walk after 5.1 innings.

Bianco finished game one with a perfect 4-4 appearance at the plate while Franquiz drove in two runs while going 2-4..

Game 2 - New Haven 9, Adelphi 5 (7 Innings)
Timothy Woodford (Smithtown, N.Y./Happaugue) took the hill to begin the second game, looking to right the ship for the Chargers. After Wells began the game with a single to center field, the bases soon became loaded after a pair of walks. Although the bases were juiced, the two out threat would not come to pass for New Haven as a fly out retired the side.

After a scoreless inning by the Panthers, the Chargers threatened again after a Wells single, his second of the game, advanced Boag, who reached on a walk, to third. New Haven still could drive in the men on base. 

The Panthers struck first in the bottom of the second on a leadoff homerun to right center. Woodford bounced back with three consecutive outs, following the homerun, with the final coming on a swinging strikeout.

New Haven came back with a big inning of their own in the top of the fourth. After Lester was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, Reedy advanced the runner to third on a single to right field. Boag brought the run in after laying down a bunt down the right line before a second run would come across on a fielding error. Taylor continues to mount up hits, lacing a two-run double to left center to score Wells and Budzik, who reach via walk prior to Taylor's double.

Following the big inning from the Chargers, the Panthers would lead off with a homerun, once again, this time to straight away center. The homerun cut the deficit to two as the Chargers led 4-2 after four innings.

Adding to the lead, junior first baseman Bianco crushed a homerun to left center field for his fourth of the season.

With bases loaded and one out, Adelphi plated another run on a fielder's choice. The Chargers left three men on base in the top of the sixth after a strikeout ended the threat.

After a pair of singles with one away in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers made it a one score game after a single to right center.

Picking up where he left off, Franquiz began the top of the seventh with a homerun to left field, his second of the day. Two walks and a hit batter would load the bases for Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford), who drew a walk to plate a run. Lester would drive in the ninth and final run for New Haven on a sacrifice fly to center.

Down to their final three outs, the Panthers strung together three hits and four runs. Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) forced the fly ball for the final out of the game, however, securing the Chargers' 9-8 win in game two.

Woodford, who was awarded the win, allowed six hits and one walk through 4.2 innings while striking out four.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will play another doubleheader with the Adelphi Panthers on Saturday before heading home for a one game matchup with the Molloy Lions on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM at Frank Vieira Field.