WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Seven innings and 16 strikeouts, sophomore Michael Gatti (East Norwich, N.Y./Oyster Bay) was the bell of the ball for the New Haven baseball team as he earned a victory on the hill and registered the most strikeouts for a Chargers since at least the 2007 season as the Blue and Gold split a Friday afternoon doubleheader at Frank Vieira Field.  With the split, New Haven stands at 10-10 on the season and 2-1 in the Northeast-10.

Gatti pitched the full seven innings in his victory, giving up just a single hit and allowed two runs, one of which was earned. His 16 strikeouts are the most since 2022 when Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) struck out 13 batters against Adelphi. With limited records available prior to 2007, the only known record for strikeouts came in 1969 when John Krawiecki struck out 18 batters against Rutgers.

At the plate, New Haven was led by a trio of players who finished with three hits or more combined on the day. Right fielder Shaun Callahan (Newington, Conn./Newington) led everyone at the dish as he finished a combined 4-of-7 with a team-high four RBI and one run scored. Designated hitter Tyler Wells (Danville, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) followed him going a combined 3-for-6 with an RBI, three walks and two runs scored. Rounding out the leaders was first baseman Matt McIntire (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) who in the second game finished 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored.

The Chargers starting pitching was certainly the highlight of the day as the game one starter, Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa), also struck out double digit batters, finishing a seven inning outing with 10 K's. Overall, he surrendered two runs, both earned, on five hits. Transfer Jafar Vohra (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) suffered the loss as he game up three runs, two earned, in two innings of work with a pair of strikeouts as he and Carroll combined to strikeout a dozen total Hawks.

Due to unprecedented rain fall expected on Saturday, the Chargers Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Southern New Hampshire will now be played on Monday, March 25. First pitch against the Penmen is set for 12:00 p.m.

GAME 1: Saint Anselm 5, New Haven 4

New Haven took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in what turned into a pitchers dual between the two starters, Liam Carroll (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and Saint Anselm's Dallas Vaughan. In that first inning, it was a two-out rally that led to the Chargers run, with Wells starting things out with a six-pitch walk before advancing two bases on a single from Owen Pincince (North Haven, Conn./North Haven). He was able to score on the next at bat when Callahan singled to left field.

After four scoreless innings for both squads, the Hawks took their first and only lead of the day with two runs in the sixth inning that New Haven was only able to match one of. The Hawks would then add three runs in the eighth inning while the Chargers rallied for two more in the ninth.

In the sixth inning it was Joseph Frazzetta (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) who picked up the RBI with a single down the right field line. The Chargers would load the bases with one out following that single, however a pitching change for the Hawks paid off as the reliever came in to strike out the next two batters to end the threat.

After having the Hawks take a 5-2 lead, New Haven was down to its final three outs, actually their final out of the game after the first two batters in the ninth were retired in order. Wells would once again earn a two-out walk to start the rally for the Blue and Gold, advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. He then scored from second on a single to left center off the bat of Pincince who was then rewarded on the next at bat when he scored on a triple from Callahan. Callahan then attempted to steal home to tie the game at five, but was tagged out by the catcher as the Hawks celebrated the game one victory.

GAME 2: New Haven 6, Saint Anselm 2

In the nightcap, the Chargers scored early and often, putting up runs in four of the six innings they were at the plate. In the first inning, Callahan came through again, driving in two runs on a single up the middle with the bases loaded.

New Haven added single runs in the third and fourth inning and closed out their scoring with two more runs in the sixth to put the contest out of reach. Saint Anselm saw both of their runs cross the plate in the fourth inning, getting only as close as 3-2.

In the third inning it was a bases loaded walk that haunted the Hawks with Frazzetta getting the benefit of the free pass RBI. The next half inning Wells struck again, this time around with a double down the right field line just out of reach of the diving first baseman as he pushed McIntire across the dish.

McIntire would then open up the two-run rally in the sixth with a single up the middle that scored Cerruto. Three at bats later, the final run would cross the plate courtesy of a wild pitch that sailed into the backstop. Gatti would then close out the game with two K's sandwiching a fly ball to center in the top of the seventh.