Comeback Leads Baseball to 13-12 Win
DelaCruz drives in five runs in series finale vs. Quinnipiac
The Central Connecticut baseball team scored nine ninth inning runs to force extra-innings and came away with a 13-12 victory in the series finale at Quinnipiac on Sunday. The Blue Devils trailed 10-3 entering the ninth inning but scored nine runs to take a 12-10 lead. Quinnipiac scored twice in the bottom of the inning to force extra-innings.
The Bobcats appeared to win the game in the bottom of the ninth on a home run with two runners on base. However, the batter was called out for passing one of the runners and Quinnipiac would only score two on the play.
The win is the 499th in the career of head coach Charlie Hickey, moving him to within one win of reaching 500. He has his first chance on Wednesday on the road at Hartford.
The victory moves the Blue Devils to 24-24 overall and 13-15 in Northeast Conference play. Central took three of four from Quinnipiac over the weekend.
Down seven runs heading into their final at-bat, the Blue Devils scored nine runs on six hits, including a grand slam from junior Dylan DelaCruz to take the 12-10 lead. DelaCruz finished the day with two hits and five RBI, giving him an impressive 13 RBI in the four-game series with the Bobcats.
With the score tied 12-12 in the 10th, DelaCruz's sacrifice fly gave the Blue Devils the lead for good.
DelaCruz finished the weekend 10-for-19 with four home runs, 13 RBI and seven runs scored. He now leads the Blue Devils in hitting at .356 on the season with five home runs and 30 RBI.
Juniors Josh Ingham and Anthony Turgeon each drove in two runs in the victory. Ingham ended the game 4-for-6 and also scored twice. Sophomore Dominic Severino also had four hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Central had 17 hits and walked eight times in the win.
In addition to his four hits Ingham picked up the win on the mound. He pitched the final two innings and allowed one hit while striking out one. The win was his first of the season.
The Blue Devils will travel to Hartford on Wednesday looking to give Hickey his 500th career victory. Game time is 3 p.m.