NEW HAVEN, CONN. - The University of New Haven baseball team fell to in-state rival Southern Connecticut on Friday by the score of 12-15. Despite scoring three runs in the ninth inning, the comeback effort fell just shy. Led by Taylor, the Chargers offense produced 16 hits in the loss, including a homerun from Bianco in the seventh.

New Haven 12, Southern Connecticut 15 (9 Innings)
Following a split of their four-game series with the Saint Rose Golden Knights to finish their home schedule, the Chargers didn't have to travel far to close out regular season play. Kicking off the Elm City showdown, New Haven called on Bryan Pazulski (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) to start game one.

After retiring the side in order, including two strikeouts to start his outing, Pazulski gained some early run support in the top of the second. Andrew Cain (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) singled up the middle prior to a walk from Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) to put two men on with no outs. The pair succeeded in a double steal before scoring on a single to left field by Josh Lester (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague).

The Owls answered with a six run inning in the bottom of the second, however all six runs that came across were unearned as a fielding error with one out extended the inning. Although Pazulski yielded four hits and a walk in the inning, he struck out the final batter to limit the damage.

New Haven regained the lead in the third after Robert Taylor (Wolcott, Conn./The Gunnery) opened up the inning with an RBI single to center field to plate Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy), who reached on a leadoff single. Bianco drove in a pair of runs on a one-out single to left field before eventually scoring, himself, on a throwing error by the first baseman.

The game did not remain tied for long as Southern Connecticut added a run during their side of the inning on a two-out RBI single to right center to score the leadoff man, who reach on a single through the right side.

For the third straight inning, the Chargers put runs on the board as Cain poked a single through the left side with two outs to plate Wells, who reach on a single to left center before advancing to third on a single by Taylor. Taylor crossed home plate after Bianco reached base on a fielding error at shortstop, putting New Haven up by two.

Despite allowing a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the fourth, Lester caught the runner taking off for second on the throw down to Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham). Pazulski forced another two quick outs, including a five-pitch punchout, to retire the side in order.

After neither team scored for the first time since the opening inning, the Chargers threatened with runners on first and third with two outs but a pickoff at first kept New Haven at bay.

The lead changed for the fifth time as Southern Connecticut began the side with a pair of walks before a run would score on a throwing error during a sacrifice bunt. The Owls would score another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Cam Guarino (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) relieved Pazulski on the mound to record the final out, a lineout to shortstop.

To tie the game at nine, Bianco crushed the first pitch he saw for a solo shot to left field. The homerun was Bianco's fourth in the past five games and his ninth of the season.

The Owls struck back, however, with their second six-run inning of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Although Southern Connecticut racked up seven hits in the inning, including three consecutive singles to leadoff the side, a pair of defensive errors prolonged the inning.

Taylor picked up his fourth hit of the afternoon in the top of the eighth inning, his third four-hit game of the season.

Entering the ninth inning with a six run deficit, Franquiz started the comeback effort with a leadoff single to center field. After Aaron Soucy (Brooklyn, Conn./The Pomfret School), Hunter Boag (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) and Wells drew consecutive walks, Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) reached base on a fielding error to bring in a run. With bases loaded and only one out, Taylor drew a walk on five pitches to plate the third run of the inning, however, the Chargers would ultimately fall short.

Although he was handed his fifth loss of the season, Pazulski allowed eight hits and four walks through 5.2 innings while striking out seven.

The loss sends the Chargers to 22-19 on the season and 7-14 during conference play.

NEXT UP
The University of New Haven baseball team will continue their series against the Southern Connecticut State Owls with a doubleheader on Sunday. The two-game slate is set to begin at noon at the Ballpark at SCSU.