Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader at Wagner

After using a four-run rally in its final at bat to take the first game, the Central Connecticut baseball team scored early and got a strong pitching performance to take game two from Wagner in a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. CCSU scored four runs the top of the seventh inning to drop Wagner, 5-4, in game one and got a complete game pitching performance to take game two by an 8-2 margin. 

With the wins the Blue Devils have won three straight and are 10-14 overall and 3-5 in the NEC. Wagner falls to 9-13 overall and 5-3 in NEC play.

Game 1: CCSU 5, Wagner 4

Central erased a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning by scoring four runs to take a 5-4 win in the first game of the doubleheader. A two-run single by sophomore John Lippincott in the Blue Devils' final at bat drove in the winning run.

Wagner took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Ben Ruta reached on a fielder's choice with two outs and came around on a double by Phil Capra for the day's first run to make it 1-0.

The Seahawks tacked on a run in the third. Sean Mazzio led off with a single and moved to third on a single and then a fly out to right field. He came home to make it 2-0 after Anthony Pecora put the ball in play and reached on an error.

CCSU got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Nick Garland and senior Matt Martinez hit back-to-back singles with one out to set up the inning. Junior Tyler Coleman singled to centerfield for Central's third straight hit and bring home Garland to make it 2-1.

Wagner scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to build its lead. The Seahawks loaded the bases with no outs and a walk by Anthony Godino scored Will Johnson to make it 3-1. A sacrifice fly by Ruta plated another run to make it 4-1, but Central avoided further damage with an inning-ending fly out.

Central's rally started with a pair of walks and a hit batsmen to load the bases with no outs. Senior Corey Lerche pinch hit and singled through the left side to drive in a run and make it 4-2. After Wagner got an out, senior Connor Fitzsimons put the ball in play and reached on the fielder's choice that allowed freshman David Balunek to score. Lippincott followed with a single to centerfield to drive in a pair of runs and give Central the 5-4 lead.

Freshman Mike Appel came in to pitch the seventh and worked around a leadoff double by Anthony Harrold to protect the lead and earn the save for CCSU.

Freshman Jared Gallagher got the win in relief for the Blue Devils, pitching a clean inning in relief. Freshman Brandon Fox started for CCSU and allowed two runs, one earned, in 3.1 innings. 

Garland, Martinez and sophomore Dean Lockery each finished with two hits for Central. The Blue Devils collected 10 hits as a team.

Mike Adams started for Wagner and allowed just one run on seven hits in 6.0 innings. He had five strikeouts and one walk. Nick Pavia took the loss, allowing four runs, one earned, without recording an out.

Capra went 3-for-4 at the plate for Wagner with an RBI. The Seahawks totaled eight hits as a team.

Game 2: CCSU 8, Wagner 2

The Blue Devils scored four runs in the third inning to take a quick lead in game two and that was enough support for junior Brett Susi, who went the distance on the mound for the win.

Central opened the scoring by loading the bases with one out in the third inning. Sophomore Ryan Costello knocked in the first run, scoring Coleman, with a fielder's choice. Lerche followed with a three-run blast to left field to clear the bases and give CCSU a 4-0 lead.

Wagner managed to push across a run in the fifth. Kyle Cala singled to lead off and he advanaced to third base after a walk and a double-play. Sean Mazzio singled to bring Cala home and make it 4-1.

The Blue Devils came right back in the sixth with four runs. Garland reached on an error to lead off the inning and came home two batters later after Martinez singled to right center field. A walk to Coleman and single by junior Nick Landell loaded the bases. Lockery hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-1. Costello followed two batters later with a single up the middle to drive in a pair of runs and make it 8-1.

The Seahawks scratched out a run in the sixth after Cole Heavilin singled to drive home Anthony Harrold and make it 8-2. Susi would stifle the Wagner bats from there, allowing just one hit over the final three innings to complete doubleheader sweep for CCSU.

Susi, who improves to 3-2 on the year, scattered 11 hits over 9.0 innings and walked just one, while striking out seven. 

Lerche and Costello each drove in three runs to power the Blue Devils offense. CCSU pounded out 10 hits and Lockery went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Matt Morris started for Wagner and allowed four runs on six hits over 4.1 innings of work. Cala finished with three hits to pace the Seahawks at the plate.

The teams close out the four-game series with a nine-inning contest on Saturday afternoon.