Baseball Falls to Quinnipiac in Non-League Action

The Central Connecticut baseball team was unable to overcome an early deficit and fell to Quinnipiac, 9-5, on Wednesday afternoon at CCSU Baseball Field. The Blue Devils used a four-run sixth inning to get within two runs, but were unable to complete the rally in a non-conference matchup.

Central slips to 10-15 overall and Quinnipiac is now 8-17.

The Bobcats scored a run in each of the first three innings to build a 3-0 lead. Rob Pescitelli opened the scoring with a solo homerun in the top of the first to make it 1-0. 

Matthew Oestreicher led off the second for the Bobcats with a triple and came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. Quinnipiac opened the third inning with three straight triples, with Pescitelli driving in Matthew Batten to make it 3-0.

Quinnipiac added to its lead with three runs in the top of the sixth. After a pair of walks, the runners advanced to second and third following an error. Brian Moskey cleared the bases with a three-run homerun to make it 6-0.

The Blue Devils rallied in the bottom half of the inning with four runs. Sophomore Ryan Costello started things off with a single to right field, folloed by senior Corey Lerche singling down the left field line to put runners on first and second. An infield single by junior Andrew Hinckley loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Nick Garland followed with a hard hit ball to third that deflected to the shortstop for a fielder's choice. The play scored a run to make it 6-1 and put runners on first and third. 

Senior Matt Martinez was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to load the bases for freshman Chandler Debrosse, who looped a single to right centerfield and drove in two runs to make it 6-3. Sophomore John Lippincott drew a walk to again load the bases for sophomore Dean Lockery. Another walk brought home another run to make it 6-4 before Quinnipiac could get out of the inning.

The Bobcats got two runs back in the seventh. Pescitelli and Lou Iannotti led off with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position. After a walk put runners on first and third, Joseph Burns singled to score a run and make it 7-4. Moskey hit into a fielder's choice that plated Iannotti, but the Blue Devils ended the inning with a double-play after getting an out at second base and then throwing a runner out at home. QU led 8-4 after the seventh inning.

Debrosse hit a two-out double for CCSU in the eighth. Lippincott followed with a single to center field to score a run and make it 8-5. The Blue Devils would put runners on first and second, but Quinnipiac managed to escape further damage.

The Bobcats added an insurance run in the ninth after a leadoff single was followed by a two-out double from Moskey to round out the scoring.

Central pounded out 11 hits, led by Costello and Debrosse with two hits apiece. Debrosse also drove in two runs. 

Freshman Tom Curtin started for CCSU and allowed three runs in 2.0 innings of work. 

Pescitelli and Batten each had three hits for QU, while Moskey drove in five runs. Brandon Shileikis threw five shutout innings for the Bobcats to get the win. Robert Hitt allowed one hit, with two strikeouts, in 1.1 innings of work to get the save.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday, April 8, when they open a series against Mount St. Mary's in Northeast Conference action. The teams will play a four-game series with a single game on Friday and Sunday, and a doubleheader on Saturday.