WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team picked up an 8-3 victory over the Molloy Lions on Wednesday afternoon. Capped off by a five run 7th inning, New Haven finishes non-NE10 play with a win, sending them to 18-14 on the season.

Molloy 3, New Haven 8 (9 Innings)
Entering the midweek matchup on a two-game losing streak, the Chargers turned to Kevin McNiff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), who made his second start of the season, to right the ship against the Molloy Lions to start the homestand.

Although the senior yielded a single to begin his outing, McNiff had some help from a shifty defensive play. After a fielder's choice advanced the runner to second, Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) quickly turned two, unassisted, after catching the lineout.

Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) kicked things off for the Charger's side of the inning by beating out an infield single to shortstop. While Wells was caught stealing at third, the Chargers would get their first run after Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) roped a double down the right field line. Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery), who doubled as well, scored on the double before Cain, himself, would come around to score after Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) reached on an error.

After walking the leadoff man and hitting a batter, McNiff escaped the one-out jam by forcing a groundout to second base. New Haven avoided being retired in order after Franquiz reached on an error, however, the Chargers were held with a run.

Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) entered the game for McNiff in the top of the third inning and quickly retired the side, striking out the first two batters he faced.

Cain was the only Charger to get aboard in the bottom of the third, reaching base on a walk. Despite that, Kyle Allen (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood), who relieved Guarino, kept the Lions off the scoreboard. After punching out the first batter, the sophomore forced a pair of groundouts to the left side for a 1-2-3 inning.

Following a scoreless inning for the New Haven offense, Henry Iuzzolino (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow) took the mound for the first time this season. The freshman struck out the first batter of the side before allowing a walk, which would make its was to third on a passed ball and a groundout before a two-out walk put runners on the corner. The threat would not come to pass, however, as a groundout to second base retired the side.

After Franquiz opened the bottom of the fifth with an infield single to shortstop, Wells advanced the runner to third on a single to center field, following a dropped foul out. Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) drove in the run on an RBI sacrifice bunt to the right side.

With Minio on the mound for New Haven, the freshman faced early adversity after yielding a pair of singles to begin the top of the sixth. A heads up play by Cain in left field kept Molloy off the board as he doubled up the runner at second on a lineout.

Despite Josh Lester's (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) one-out single down the right field line, the Chargers went without a run, once again, after the catcher was caught stealing at second.

Gary Costello (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) took over the rubber for the seventh inning but allowed back-to-back singles to begin the side. After a passed ball advanced the runners, one run would come across on an RBI groundout to second base. A pair of walks loaded the bases prior to a single up the middle, which plated another two runs.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Franquiz started the Charger's offensive effort with a single to left center. Following a walk by Wells and Budzik drawing a hit by pitch, Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) delivered a timely single to center field, driving in two. Even though there was a pitching change for the Lions, Cain remained unfazed, plating another two runs on a single up the middle. New Haven's fifth and final run of the inning came on a Bianco double down the right field line, which scored Cain after he successfully stole second.

Now with the lead, Cain switched from the outfield to the pitcher's mound. The senior retired the side in order, forcing two fly outs and a groundout to begin his outing. The Chargers went down in order, as well, in the bottom of the eighth.

After pitching through his first inning since March 16, Cain returned for the top of the ninth, where he retired the side in order again. The win sends the Chargers to a 18-14 record on the season as the team concludes non-NE10 play.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will continue their home stretch, hosting the American International Yellow Jackets for a four game series over the weekend. The series will start with one game on Friday before a doubleheader on Saturday and finishing with a game on Sunday. Friday's game at Frank Vieira Field is set to start at 3:00 PM while both weekend games are scheduled for noon.