WEST HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team split their doubleheader with the Saint Rose Golden Knights on Sunday. After falling 0-1 in game one, the Chargers bounced back with a dominant 15-7 victory in game two. Following a two homerun day on Saturday, Bianco came up big in game two with two doubles and a game-changing homerun.

Game 1 - Saint Rose 1, New Haven 0 (7 Innings)

After the team picked up a 4-1 win over the Saint Rose Golden Knights to send the Chargers home on Senior Day, Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) took the mound to start the first game of the slate. Coming off a loss in his last outing, the freshman southpaw started his Sunday on a familiar note.

Carroll made quick work of the first batter, striking him out on five pitches, before allowing a single to right field. Following a flyout to center field, the freshman struck out the final batter to retire the side.

Recording a strikeout to begin the second and the third inning, Carroll continued to toss shutout innings for the Chargers. Besides a runner reaching on a fielding error with two outs in the top of the third, the southpaw tacked on another three punchouts.

Despite striking out the leadoff man again, the Golden Knights threatened in the fourth with two outs after loading the bases with a single, a hit batter and a walk. Carroll and the Chargers escaped the jam after the freshman forced a popup to first base.

After New Haven went down in order for the fourth straight inning, the Knights scored first. The leadoff man got into scoring position on a double down the left field line before scoring on a single to right center.

Breaking the no-hitter, Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) laced a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the fifth, however, the run would not come to pass.

Following a shutout inning in the top of the sixth, including a strikeout of the leadoff man, Carroll returned to the mound for the seventh where the Knights once again threatened to add insurance to their 1-0 lead. A walk with one out led to runners on the corners after a single to left field but the freshman recorded his ninth strikeout of the game to escape the jam.

Looking to make a comeback, Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) roped a single to left field to kick off the effort. With one away, Cain found open grass down the right field line to advance Budzik to third but nothing would come of it as the Charger's comeback bid fell short.

Despite picking up the loss, Carroll allowed six hits and two walks across seven innings while striking out nine batters. 

With the loss, the Chargers fall to 21-18 on the season and 6-13 during conference play.

Game 2 - Saint Rose 7, New Haven 15 (9 Innings)

Looking to rebound from the game one loss, New Haven called on graduate Timothy Woodford (Smithtown, N.Y./Happaugue) to start the nine-inning second game.

The Golden Knights would be the ones to strike first, scoring one run after the leadoff man, who reached on a single to third base, crossed home on a throwing error.

New Haven answered after Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) led off the side with a single to right center field. After a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, Wells reached third base, where he would score on a single left field by Cain. The senior utilityman would score on a double steal with Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park), who reached on a fielding error.

Although the first two batters went down on strikes, Saint Rose tied the game at two a piece following a solo homerun to right field. The Golden Knights tacked on another run in the third inning after a leadoff walk came around to score on a single through the left side.

Despite a two-out double down the left field line by Aaron Soucy (Brooklyn, Conn./The Pomfret School) in the bottom of the fourth, the Chargers couldn't tack on a run as a groundout retired the side. After a leadoff single began the Saint Rose side in the fifth, the Golden Knights took a two run lead on a homerun to deep left center. 

With one out, Budzik drew a walk prior to a Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) double to right center. With two runners on base, the stage was set for Bianco, who hit a homerun in both games on Saturday. The junior first baseman got a hold of one, yet again, tying the game with a three-run shot to left field. Despite Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) and Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) hitting back-to-back singles following the homerun, a strikeout would retire the side.

Woodford forced two quick outs to begin the top of the sixth before the Golden Knights would strike again on a two-run homerun to deep right field.

Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) and Wells drew a pair of walks to begin the bottom half of the inning before Boag would score on a throwing error, which would allow Budzik to reach first. After Taylor drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to right field, Cain drew a walk prior to Bianco's at-bat. The junior first baseman delivered another big hit with a double off the left field wall, plating Budzik. With two outs, Franquiz cleared the bases with a single back up the middle, giving the Chargers a 10-7 lead.

After Matthew Minio (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) relieved Woodford, keeping the Knights off the board, the Chargers struck again with a four run inning in the seventh. Wells drew a walk with one out, his second of the game and 35th of the year, before the junior outfielder successfully stole second and third base. Wells scored on a close play at the plate on a fielder's choice hit by Budzik before the second baseman would score on the next play, a double to right center by Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery), his second of the game. Also hitting his second double of the game, Bianco drove in another run after doubling to center field. The Chargers scored their fourth run of the inning on a single through the right side by Franquiz to plate Bianco.

Kyle Allen (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) took the hill for the start of the eighth inning, where he worked his way out of a two-out threat with runners on the corner, forcing a pop up to second base.

Looking to add to their lead, Boag poked one through the left side prior to advancing to second on a passed ball. A groundout to third would advance Boag before the senior scored the final run on another passed ball. Although Taylor roped a triple down the right field line, all the way into the corner behind the bullpen, the Chargers would head into the ninth inning with an eight run lead.

Drew Silverman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) enter the game with a hefty lead, seeking to secure the victory for New Haven, the junior closer recorded two quick fly outs before yielding a single through the left side. The final out of the game would come on runner interference while Budzik was fielding a ground ball.

Woodford, who was a no-decision in the contest, allowed eigth hits and two walks through six innings while punching out three. Taylor, Bianco and Franquiz each tallied three hits in the victory, combining for four doubles, a triple and a homerun while racking up eight RBIs.

With the win, New Haven is now 22-18 on the season and 7-13 in conference play.

NEXT UP
New Haven will conclude their regular season on the road, however, the team won't have to travel far as they will take on the Southern Connecticut Owls in an Elm City showdown next weekend. The series will feature a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday and will take place at The Ballpark at SCSU with both days starting at noon.