WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team picked up their 14th win of the season in dominant fashion as they defeated the visiting Assumption Greyhounds, 13-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. 

Assumption 5, New Haven 13 (9 Innings)

Originally scheduled to meet on March 8 before being postponed, the Chargers finally hosted the Assumption Greyhounds for a one-game matchup in the middle of the week. Following the doubleheader split against the Southern New Hampshire Penmen over the weekend, the Chargers sent the freshman southpaw Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) out to start the game against another top team in the Northeast Division.

The freshman started his outing on a good note, striking out the lead off man, before forcing a pair of fly outs to retire the side in order.

Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon), the team's RBI leader, entered Tuesday's matchup following a 3-3 performance in his last game which included a leadoff homerun to right field, his first as a Charger. He picked up right where he left off, roping a single to right field to start the game. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout to shortstop would advance Maucere to third base but he'd be left stranded on a fly ball.

Carroll continued to stave off the Greyhounds, punching out another two batters after forcing a fly out to start the second inning. Taylor's diving effort in center field prevented a leadoff single, keeping the G'Hounds without a hit.

With one out, Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) singled to left field before being called out on a fielder's choice. Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague), who was responsible for the fielder's choice, would advance into scoring position after Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) drew an eight pitch walk. The Chargers squandered the scoring opportunity, once again, after a groundout ended the threat.

The freshman southpaw resumed his shutout of the Assumption offense, working another 1-2-3 inning that featured two swinging strikeouts. Bianco's stretching effort after a dropped third strike prevented an error while keeping the Greyhounds off the bases. Carroll made a swift play on defense, as well, snagging a comebacker for the second out of the inning.

Despite stranding runners in the first two innings of the game, the Chargers offense finally exploded in the third. Maucere kicked off the bottom of the third with a single to center field before reaching second base after an error on a fielder's choice by Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell). Following Robert Taylor's (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) single back to the pitcher, the bases were juiced with no outs for Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford). The senior designated hitter took full advantage of opportunity, driving one back up the middle to plate two runs before advancing to second on the throw. Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) would bring home another run on a sacrifice fly to left field but Cain would score too as Bianco delivered an RBI triple, his first of the year, to left center field. With only one out in the inning, Lester would plate the fifth and final run on a sacrifice fly to right field.

After tossing three shutout innings and striking out five batters, Carroll yielded the mound to Timothy Woodford (Smithtown, N.Y./Happaugue) with the no-hitter in tact. The graduate pitcher retired the side in order, all by way of the K.

Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) and Maucere drew walks to begin the bottom of the fourth, the latter coming off a five walk effort in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. A ground ball advanced both runners into scoring position but a strikeout and a ground out would keep it a five run game.

The no-hitter was eventually broken in the top of the fifth on a double right down the left field line after Woodford struck out the leadoff man, his fourth consecutive strikeout. The graduate quickly escaped the jam, however, forcing two fly balls to leave the man on second.

Wells drew a four-pitch walk before reaching second on a one-out single to left center field by Lester. The threat would not come to pass, however, as the Chargers left seven runs on the bases through the first five innings.

Woordford allowed another hit with one-out but kept the Greyhounds off the board while recording a strikeout. The Chargers added another run to their lead after Budzik, who singled with one out, scored on a fielder's choice hit by Cain.

Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) came in for relief of Woodford and faced adversity from the start. After the Assumption leadoff man singled to left field, the next two batters were hit by pitches. The Chargers made the play at home on a fielder's choice but a run would still score on a sacrifice fly. Another hit batter kept the bases loaded before a two-run double to left center field nearly wiped them clean. A fielding error allowed another two runners to come across as the G'Hounds cut the deficit to one.

Although Bianco reached base on a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, the next three Chargers would be retired with the latter two going down on strikes. After keeping Assumption of the scoreboard in the top of the inning, the Chargers broke open the game with a huge bottom of the eighth.

Maucere started the insurance effort with a leadoff single to center field before successfully stealing second. Budzik would reach on an error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt which would plate the runner. A Taylor single, followed by a Cain walk, would load the bases for New Haven with no outs but only briefly as Wells doubled down the first base line to bring in two runs. Three straight walks accounted for two runs while keeping the bases juiced for Budzik, who batted around in the inning. The senior shortstop capped off the seven-run inning with a two-run single to center field.

Kevin McNiff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) was called on in the top of the ninth to close out the game but hit a batter and allowed a single to start the inning. McNiff buckled down and recorded a strikeout before forcing a double play to secure the Charger's victory.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team hit the road for a four game series against the Le Moyne Dolphins. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to start at noon at Dick Rockwell Field in Syracuse, N.Y.