Extra Inning Victory Sends Blue Devils to Third Seed in Northeast Conference Tournament

Junior Anthony Scialdone drove in the game-winning run with a single in the top of the 10th inning as the Central Connecticut baseball team topped Monmouth 3-2, and advanced to this week's Northeast Conference Baseball Tournament. The Blue Devils won three straight games to claim the third seed in the upcoming tournament, which will be played at New Britain Stadium starting on Thursday. CCSU will play at 3:30 p.m. against #2 seed Sacred Heart. #1 seed Wagner will face #4 Monmouth at 12 noon.

With Sunday's victory the Blue Devils improve to 26-20 overall and finish the NEC season with a 16-11 league record. The record is good for third place in the conference standings. Entering the weekend the Blue Devils were in fifth place in the league. After dropping the first game of the weekend series with the Hawks, they won three straight, including Sunday's extra inning affair, to advance to post season tournament play.

Senior lefty Ken Kerski picked up the win in the mound for the Blue Devils in relief. It was his second win in as many days. He pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing only two hits and no runs to help CCSU advance.

Junior right hander Dan Markoya was impressive in his 7.1 innings of work. Taking the mound with the Blue Devils in need of the win to advance to the NEC Tournament, Markoya went 7.1 innings allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out three Monmouth hitters.

The Hawks led 1-0 after a run in the bottom of the first off of Markoya. The Blue Devils scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-1 lead. In the third junior Tommy Meade was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He went to third on a double by senior catcher Sean Parker. He scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman Mitch Wells.

In the fourth CCSU manufactured a run without a hit to take their first lead of the game. Scialdone walked, and went to second when sophomore Pat Epps was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Junior Richie Tri's sacrifice fly gave CCSU the one-run lead.

The Hawks tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. After the run scored Kerski entered the game and after the Hawks recorded a induced a double play to end the inning.

In the 10th inning junior Sean Allaire singled to lead off the frame. Senior Casey Walko's sacrifice bunt sent Allaire to second, where he scored on the single by Scialdone to give the Blue Devils the 3-2 lead. Kerski allowed a pair of runners in the bottom of the inning but did not allow a run as the Blue Devils claimed the 3-2 win.

Tri, Wells and Scialdone all drove in a run for CCSU in the victory. Kerski got the win to move to 6-4 on the season, with his second win in as many days. The win was the 15th road win of the season for the Blue Devils, against only nine losses.

CCSU advances to the NEC Tournament, which will be held at New Britain Stadium, beginning on Thursday. They will face #2 seed Sacred Heart at 3:30 p.m.