Baseball Wins Opener, 2-1, in Extra Innings
Blue Devils open the season with a neutral site win over Iona
The Central Connecticut baseball team opened its 2014 season with a 2-1 extra-innings victory over Iona on Friday afternoon. The game was played at Dowling College on Long Island after a weekend trip to Philadelphia was canceled for the Blue Devils.
Senior Josh Ingham earned his first save of the season pitching a scoreless 11th inning to lead the Blue Devils to the victory. The save is the 20th of his career, extending his own school record.
Freshman righty Matt Blandino picked up his first career win for the Blue Devils in his first career appearance. He pitched five innings allowing just two hits while striking out two.
Senior Nick Neumann, making his first start of the season, went the first five innings allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out five Iona batters.
The game was tied 1-1 in the top of the 11th inning when sophomore catcher Connor Fitzsimons drove in the game-winning run with a single to left field, his first hit of the game. The hit scored senior J.P. Sportman who had singled to lead off the inning. Sportman scored both runs for the Blue Devils in the win.
Central had five hits in the game, including two from junior first baseman Dominic Severino. Central trailed 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning when they tied the score 1-1 on an RBI single from Severino. The play scored Sportman who had led off the inning by reaching on an error and then stole second base.