Baseball Sweeps VMI

The Central Connecticut baseball team took both games of a doubleheader on the road at VMI on Sunday, winning 6-5 and 4-2 to improve to 4-4 overall on the season. The two wins complete a three-game sweep of the Keydets after the Blue Devils also took the first game of the series, 3-1, on Friday.

Game #1: CCSU 6, VMI 5

VMI got on the board first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Blue Devil senior starter Dominic Severino.  Central quickly, however, with two runs of their own in the top of the second inning to tie the score.

Severino singled to lead off the inning and went to third on a double from junior Corey Lerche.  Freshman Nick Garland grounded out for the first out of the inning and it scored Severino.  Freshman Dean Lockery's sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning to tie the game.

VMI took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Central answered again, this time scoring twice in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.  Junior Matt Martinez singled to lead off the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Sophomore Franklin Jennings singled to put runners on second and third.  An RBI single from junior Ian Glassman scored the first run, and the second scored on a throwing error by VMI to make it 4-3.

Severino would pitch 4.1 innings for the Blue Devils allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out five batters.

VMI scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead.  Sophomore reliever Austin Salnitis gave up both runs in the inning.  Salnitis would go 2.2 innings and allow just the two runs on three hits while striking out three batters.

Central took a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run home run from Lerche, his first in a Blue Devils uniform.  The home run scored Severino who had reached on a fielder's choice.  VMI loaded the bases but sophomore reliever Kevin Connolly struck out the final batter of the inning to end the jam.

Game #2: CCSU 4, VMI 2

In the second game VMI jumped out in front again with a single run in the first inning off of junior starter Cody Brown. 

The Blue Devils answered with three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.  With one out senior Bryan Rivera singled and went to second on a bunt single.  Both runners advanced a base on a throwing error on the play.  With men on second and third junior Connor Fitzsimons grounded out to score the first run and tie the game.  Glassman singled to score the second and then scored on a double from Severino, making it 3-1.

VMI added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Blue Devil lead to 3-2.  With two outs a double to left center cut the Blue Devil lead in half.

Severino gave the Blue Devils a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning with his first home run of the season.

The lead would be all Brown would need as he retired six of the next eight VMI batters, including four via strike out, over the final two innings to secure the victory. Brown went the distance allowing two runs on three hits and struck out 15 to pick up his first win of the season (1-0).

The Blue Devils will return home to host Albany in a single game on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.  Albany and Marist will play a game following the CCSU/Albany game.  On Wednesday the Blue Devils will host Marist in a single game at 1 p.m.