Kosakowski Pitches Blue Devils to Third Straight Victory to Open the Season

Senior righty Taylor Kosakowski pitched six innings allowing six hits and striking out eight to lead the Central Connecticut baseball team to an 8-1 victory over Iona on Sunday morning. With the win the Blue Devils move to 3-0 on the season, it is their second win over Iona in as many days. Central Connecticut will end the weekend trip with a Sunday afternoon game against Navy.

For the third straight game the Blue Devils got on the scoreboard first with a single run in the top of the second inning. Tommy Meade doubled with one out in the inning and later scored on a single up the middle from junior Kyle Zarotney.

The Blue Devils put up three runs in the top of the fifth inning to stretch their lead to 4-0. Sophomore Pat Epps doubled, scoring both Sean Allaire and Anthony Scialdone, who had singled in the inning. Epps scored on an RBI single from senior Jay Schillaci to build the four-run edge.

Central Connecticut broke it open with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Freshman Mitch Wells walked to lead off the inning and, following a walk to junior Richie Tri, runners were at first and second. Allaire doubled to right field scoring both runners making it 6-0. Epps drove in his third run of the game, scoring Allaire, to make it 7-0 in favor of the Blue Devils.

Senior catcher Sean Parker made it 8-0 with an RBI double in the top of the eighth. It was his sixth RBI in the first three games of the season.

Kosakowski was impressive in his six innings of work scattering just six hits and striking out eight. He walked only two batters and faced just 24 in his six innings. All six hits that he allowed were singles.

Freshman left hander Jason Foster, seeing the first action of his career for the Blue Devils, pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings for the Blue Devils, allowing just one hit. He struck out one and walked one.

The Blue Devils lost the shutout bid when Iona hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Epps led the offense with his three RBI, giving him six in just three games for open the 2009 season. Allaire had a pair of hits and two RBI while Zarotney added three hits in the win.

CCSU will play one final game on Sunday against Navy, immediately following their win over Iona. CCSU topped Navy 9-6 on Saturday.