WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team split their Senior Day doubleheader with the Saint Rose Golden Knights on Saturday. After falling 6-8 in game one, the Chargers rebounded with a 4-1 victory in game two. Following a three hit performance in game one that resulted in a triple shy of the cycle, Bianco hit a pivotal homerun in game two.
Game 1 - Saint Rose 8, New Haven 6 (9 Innings)
In their first game since their walkoff 7-6 win over the American International Yellow Jackets on Sunday, the Chargers turned to
Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) to kickoff the Senior Day series. After recording his fourth win of the season last weekend, the junior righty received early run support in game one.
Although a runner would reach on a fielding error with one out, Pazulski started his outing off strong with a pair of strikeouts. Leading off for New Haven,
Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) drew a six-pitch walk to take first base before
Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) laced a single to right field to push the junior outfielder into scoring position. For the 33rd time this season, Wells reached base on balls, ranking first among all NE10 batters.
Even though an error would allow
Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) to reach first, Wells was thrown out at home after attempting to score from second base. With Budzik on third base with only one away,
Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) plated the runner on a groundout to the left side to put the Chargers up 1-0.
Pazulski struck out the first batter he faced in the second inning before a runner would get on base due to another error with one out. Despite the runner successfully stealing second to advance into scoring position, Pazulski kept a level head, striking out the next batter and forcing a groundout to retire the side.
Earning the game one start on Senior Day,
Aaron Soucy (Brooklyn, Conn./The Pomfret School) swung at the first pitch, driving a single to center field. Although nothing came of the one-out single from Soucy both sides would go down in order in the third inning with Pazulski recording his fifth punchout of the game.
Although the first batter for the Golden Knights would be rung up on strikes, Saint Rose scored two runs in the top of the fourth after a single to the right center gap with bases loaded. With runners on second and third, following a stolen base, Pazulski escaped the jame with a flyball to left field.
New Haven didn't trail for long as
Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) drove a two-run homerun to left field, scoring Cain, who reached on a walk to leadoff the side.
After holding the Knights to a scoreless inning, the Chargers added another two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Taylor kicked off the effort by reaching on a fielder's choice before Bianco drove a two-out double to deep right center to plate the runner. Bianco would come around to score, himself, after
Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) singled up the middle.
Saint Rose cut the deficit by one after a double down the left line resulted in a run on a one-out single to right field. Another error would allow runners on first and second but Pazulski recorded the final two outs to retire the side, including a strikeout looking.
Despite
Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) leading off the bottom of the sixth with a single to right field, New Haven would enter the top of the seventh with a three run lead after stranding a pair of runners on base.
Following a pitching change, the Golden Knights would tie the game at five with a homerun plated two runners, who reached on a walk and a single to leadoff the inning. After hitting the fourth batter he faced,
Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) took the mound to limit the damage. A bunt single prior to a throwing error led to two runners in scoring position but only one would score on a wild pitch. Guarino struckout the next batter before forcing a fly out to left field to send the Chargers back on offense.
New Haven looked to tie the game following a single from Bianco, however, the junior first baseman was thrown out at home on the relay after a double to off the right field wall by Franquiz.
A leadoff single and a one-out double down the left field line threatened the Chargers again in the top of the eighth but Guarino escaped the jam with an infield popup and a flyout to center.
Saint Rose added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after New Haven was held without a run in the prior inning. After a leadoff walk reached scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, a single back up the middle was all it took to plate the run.
The Chargers, ultimately would fall to the Golden Knights, 6-8 as they fall to 20-17 on the season and 5-12 in conference play.
Pazulski, who was a no-decision in the contest, allowed five hits and one walk through six innings while striking out seven. Bianco led the offense, going 3-5 at the plate, coming a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
Game 2 - Saint Rose 1, New Haven 4 (7 Innings)
Looking to rebound from the game one loss, New Haven called on ace Thomas Eletto (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) to start the seven-inning second game.
The Golden Knights struck first, scoring one run after four straight singles to lead off the game. With bases loaded, a lineout to first nearly resulted in a double play but Eletto would get what he was looking for during the next at-bat as the Chargers turned two on a groundout to shortstop.
New Haven answered in the bottom of the first after Wells doubled to left center to leadoff the Charger's side. After advancing to third on a groundout by Budzik, Wells would score after Taylor singled to left center field. Although Taylor was caught stealing, Cain continued the offensive effort with a triple down the right field line but he would be left stranded on a strikeout.
Despite allowing a one-out single through the right side, Eletto remained unfazed, striking out the final two batters of the inning to retire the side.
Lester and Franquiz led off the bottom of the second with a pair of singles before Dylan Chiaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) cleared the bases with a single through the right side.
It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth that the Chargers would add their fourth and final run on a leadoff homerun to left filed by Bianco on the first pitch, his second of the day.
Although Eletto yielded a walk to lead off the top of the seventh, the senior struck out the next two batters before forcing a groundout to first to secure the victory.
Eletto, who picked up his sixth win of the season, allowed five hits and three walks through seven innings while punching out six.
With the win, New Haven is now 21-17 on the season and 6-12 in conference play.
NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will conclude their series with the Saint Rose Golden Knights on Sunday with a seven inning game followed by a nine inning game. Start time is scheduled for noon at Frank Vieria Field.
