Hinckley's Shutout Helps Baseball Split Doubleheader at Wagner

Junior Andrew Hinckley threw a complete-game shutout to help the Central Connecticut baseball team defeat Wagner, 2-0, on Friday in the second game of a doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Seahawks took the opener of the four-game Northeast Conference series, 16-2.

Central is now 8-14 overall on the season and 1-5 in conference play. Wagner is 9-10 overall and 5-1 in the NEC.

Game 1: Wagner 16, CCSU 2

The Seahawks scored four runs in each of the second and third innings to erase an early Blue Devils lead en route to taking the first game of the weekend series.

Sophomore Mitch Guilmette hit a pair of doubles and scored a run, while senior Connor Fitzsimons had two hits and a run driven in. Sophomores Dylan Maher and Nick Garland each recorded two hits apiece as well.

Central opened the scoring in the top of the second. Guilmette led off with a ground-rule double and moved to third, but was cut down at home on a fielder's choice that allowed senior Matt Martinez to reach base and move to second base. A single by Garland brough home Martinez for a 1-0 lead.

Wagner responded in the bottom of the second with four runs. With one out, the Seahawks rattled off four consecutive singles. Anthony Godino drove in the first Wagner run and a bases-loaded ground out brought home another run to make it 2-1. Ben Ruta hit a two-out, two RBI single to give Wagner a 4-1 lead.

The Seahawks pushed across four more runs in the third. With two runners on base, Brendan Benecke hit a two-out single that drove in one run and an error allowed another run to score. A single by Kyle Brey made it 7-1 and was followed by a double from Godino to push the lead to 8-1.

CCSU got a run back in the fourth when Guilmette led off with a double and came around to score on a single by Fitzsimons to make it 8-2.

Wagner pushed across six runs in the fifth, led by a two-run double by Ruta and a two-run homerun from Phil Capra.

The Seahawks closed out the scoring in the eighth with two runs on a double from Anthony Harrold.

Senior Casey Brown started for CCSU and took the loss after throwing 4.0 innings. 

Austin Goeke threw 6.0 innings for Wagner and allowed just two runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Douglas Molnar threw 3.0 innings and got the save.

Ruta powered the Seahawks lineup going 5-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 2: CCSU 2, Wagner 0

After waiting out a lengthy rain delay, the Blue Devils got a strong outing from Hinckley and enough offense to pick up the 2-0 win in the second game of the doubleheader.

Central opened the scoring in the second inning with what would prove to be the winning run. Senior Corey Lerche hit a double down the left field line with one out. Garland followed with a double of his own to plate Lerche for a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils tacked on an insurance run in the fifth. Junioer Tyler Coleman laced a leadoff triple to left field. Two batters later, sophomore Dean Lockery singled up the middle to drive Coleman home for a 2-0 cushion.

The Seahawks threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Wagner loaded the bases with two outs, but Hinckley struck out John Lynn to complete the shutout and pick up the win.

Hinckley scattered seven hits, all singles, over 7.0 innings of work. He struck out four, while walking three.

Central combined for eight hits, led by Lockery who went 2-for-4 and drove in one run. 

Neil Abbatiello started for Wagner and took the loss. He threw 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out a pair. At the plate, Ruta had two hits for the Seahawks.

The teams conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. The first game will be seven innings, followed by a nine inning contest.