Baseball Wins With Two in the 11th

The Central Connecticut baseball team scored twice in the bottom of the 11th inning to claim a 5-4 win over Albany in its home opener on Wednesday afternoon.  With the victory, the third straight for the Blue Devils, Central is now 4-5 overall on the season.

Albany struck first with a single run in the top of the third inning.  Nolan Gaige led off the inning with a double and later scored on a single from Pete DiResta. 

The Blue Devils tied the game with an unearned run in the third.  With two out sophomore Dylan DelaCruz singled and went to second on a wild pitch.  He scored on a throwing error on a ground ball to the first baseman.

The Great Danes took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning.  Gaige and pinch-hitter Greg Muller each had RBI singles, although one of the runs was unearned.

The Blue Devils tied it in the bottom of the sixth.  With two outs in the inning, and a man on first, junior Mike Washburn singled and went to second on the throw to put runners on second and third.  Sophomore J.P. Sportman scored on a balk, and Washburn scored on an RBI single from sophomore Anthony Turgeon to make it 3-3.

Central had a chance in the bottom of the 10th inning.  With two outs they strung together three straight singles, but the runner was thrown at at the plate trying to score on the third hit, ending the inning.

Albany made it 4-3 in the top of the 11th inning.  With two outs and a man on third, designated hitter Adam Mund singled to right field to break the tie.

The Blue Devils answered in the 10th.  Turgeon led off the inning with a double, and scored on an RBI single off the bat of senior Danny Hickey.  Hickey went to second on a sacrifice bunt,  and to third on an infield single from senior Jake Matuszak.   He scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Mitch Wells.

Central used a number of pitchers in the game.  Starter Harry Glynne, a senior, pitched the first two innings and didn't allow a hit while striking out three Albany batters.  Freshman Jesse Frawley pitched two innings and allowed four hits and a run. 

Junior Chris Renzoni entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 2.1 innings while allowing four hits and no runs.  Sophomore Nick Boyd entered the game in the eighth with two on and one out, and forced a double play to get the Blue Devils out of a jam.

Sophomore Tom Coughlin earned the win on the mound in relief for the Blue Devils.  He is now 1-1 on the season.

Central returns to action this weekend and will open Northeast Conference play at Sacred Heart on Friday.  The four game series will be played at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.