NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Keeping the momentum of a two-game sweep on Sunday, the New Haven baseball team stormed out to an 11-0 lead en route to defeating crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University 11-9 in both teams Northeast-10 Conference opening game on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, New Haven improves to 9-9 on the season and 1-0 in the NE10.
The highlight of the day for the Chargers came on the bump where starting pitcher, freshman Vincent Fusco (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay East Fishkill) went six strong innings to earn his second (2-1) victory of the season. The Southpaw surrendered two hits and walked three batters but kept the Owls off the scoreboard while striking out five batters. Four additional pitchers all saw action for the Blue and Gold with transfer Jafar Vohra (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) leading the way out of the pen as he threw a scoreless seventh inning, surrendering a single hit.
Junior righties Christian De Risi (Hempstead, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and Matthew Minio (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) also pitched a complete inning for the Chargers with the latter of the two earning the first save of his collegiate career. Minio came in to close out the game in the ninth with an 11-8 margin on the scoreboard. He would be tagged with an unearned run, giving up one hit and striking out two batters. De Risi also registered a pair of strikeouts.
At the plate, New Haven was led by the graduate leadership of Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) who finished the game 2-of-5 at the plate with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. On of Wells two hits was the longest of the day for either team as he drilled a two-run home run in the fifth inning while picking up his third RBI on a bases loaded free pass.
In addition to Wells, two other Chargers finished with a pair of hits and multiple RBI with freshman third baseman Joseph Frazzetta (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and graduate first baseman Noah Budzik (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) each finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI. Catcher Cam McGugan (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) also drove in two runs, going 1-for-4 at the plate. Second baseman Aedan Forde (Massapequa Park, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and left fielder Owen Pincince (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) rounded out the Chargers 11 RBI.
After three scoreless innings for both teams, New Haven broke into the scoring column with a two-out run in the fourth inning. After McGuggan worked a one-out walk and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball, he was able to score on a triple off the batt of Joseph Frazzetta (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy). Wells would come through in the Chargers next half inning at the plate, again with two outs in the frame. It would be another extra base hit as Wells drilled his first home run of the season, a two-run blast that drove in Cole Maucere (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) who also reached on a free pass.
New Haven would add another single run in the top of the sixth inning, yet again with two outs recorded by the defense. This time around it was Budzik who's single drove in the run after the Chargers forced a pitching change from the Owls. Budzik's single drove in Kenneth Franquiz (Bellmore. N.Y./Mepham) who reached base on a one-out double.
With its lead a 4-0 heading into the seventh it was a seven run frame for the Chargers that put the game out of reach for the Owls despite their best efforts. With one out on the board, the next three batters all reached on hits, the third of which was a double from McGugan that allowed both Wells and Pincince to score after each singled to begin the rally.
With McGugan's double forcing another pitching change for the Owls, New Haven kept the momentum going with the next five straight batters all reaching safely, including RBI hits from Frazzetta, Forde and Budzik in the middle of walks issued to Franquiz and Nick Ungania (Mineola, N.Y./Chaminade). With the bases still loaded and now two outs in the inning, the next two batters, Wells and Pincince, would each benefit as they picked up an RBI on bases loaded walks. Between those walks was yet another pitching change for the Owls.
After being held scoreless in the seventh, Southern Connecticut eventually began to chip away at its 11 run deficit, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning but would only manage one more in the bottom of the ninth to put the final margin at 11-9.
Due to expected inclement weather this coming weekend, the Chargers Saturday doubleheader against Saint Anselm College will now be played on Friday. First pitch in the opening game against the Hawks is set for 12:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on NE10Now.tv.
