Baseball Falls in Pair of One-Run Games at Sacred Heart

The Central Connecticut baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games in a doubleheader at Sacred Heart on Saturday at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT. The Pioneers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win game one, 3-2, and the Blue Devils' rally fell just short in a 5-4 loss in game two.

CCSU is now 14-19 overall and 7-8 in the NEC. SHU is 16-14 overall and 8-2 in conference play.

GAME 1: Sacred Heart 3, CCSU 2

Sacred Heart scored a run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to down the Central Connecticut baseball team, 3-2, in the day's opening contest.

The Pioneers pushed across the winning run with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh. Jayson Sullivan was hit by a pitch with one out before Zack Short hit into a fielder's choice and reached base for the second out. Victor Sorrento followed with a double to score Short from first and give SHU the 3-2 win in the day's first game.

The Blue Devils had a chance to score in the top of the seventh when senior Matt Martinez singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Franklin Jennings came in to pinch-run and after an intentional walk to junior Tyler Coleman, the runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. CCSU was unable to push across a run after the inning ended on a ground out to set up SHU in the bottom of the inning.

Freshman Mike Appel threw 6.2 innings for Central. He took the loss, but allowed just one earned run on four hits. He struck out five and walked six as he slipped to 1-2 on the season.

James Foley threw a complete game for SHU, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and one walk. He improved to 3-2 on the season.

Central scored first in the top of the third to take the early lead. Junior Nick Landell reached on an infield single with two outs and then stole second to set up CCSU's first run. Coleman followed with a single up the middle to drive in Landell for a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers came back in the bottom of the inning, plating two unearned runs. Sullivan and Short drew consecutive walks with one out and then advanced on a fly out to put runners on second and third with two outs. The Blue Devils were almost out of the inning, but a throwing error extended the inning and allowed both runners to score to make it 2-1.

Central tied the game in the fifth after junior Andrew Hinckley got things started with a one-out single. Following a fly out, senior Connor Fitzsimons tripled to right field to score Hinckley to tie the game, 2-2.

Martinez and senior Corey Lerche led the Blue Devils with two hits apiece at the plate.

Sacred Heart left six runners on base and had four players collect a hit.

GAME 2: Sacred Heart 5, CCSU 4

The Blue Devils nearly erased a four-run deficit by scoring three runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Pioneers held on for the 5-4 win, throwing out the game-tying run at home plate in the top of the seventh inning.

Central scored first in a game that started with the teams combining for just one hit through the first three innings. The Blue Devils broke through with a run in the fourth. Sophomore Dean Lockery hit a one-out single to right center and then moved to third base on a single by Hinckley. Lerche scored Lockery with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 1-0.

The Pioneers, who were hitless through the first three innings, leveled the score in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive one-out singles from Sullivan and Short put runners on first and second, before a wild pitch moved them each up a base. Sorrento grounded out to second base to score Sullivan and tie the game 1-1.

Sacred Heart would take the lead with a four-run fifth inning. The first four batters in the inning all reached base, which included an RBI single from PJ DeFilippo to make it 2-1. A fielder's choice by Sullivan with the bases loaded scored another run and Short knocked a two-run single to make it 5-1.

The Blue Devils would come back in the top of the sixth to score two runs with two outs and cut into the deficit. Lockery got it started with a single through the right side. Hinckley was next up and reached base on a wild pitch strike three to keep the inning going. Lerche took advantage and followed with a walk to load the bases for Fitzsimons who singled through the right side to drive in two runs and make it 5-3.

Martinez led off the seventh for CCSU with a double. After the Pioneers got a pair of outs, the Blue Devils took advantage of an SHU error that allowed Martinez to score, making it 5-4, and freshman David Balunek to reach base and move to second base. Lockery followed with his third hit of the game, singling through the right side. The Blue Devils tried to tie the game on the play, but Dan Schock's throw from right field to home plate would end the game.

Lockery went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a pair of runs, while Fitzsimons went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in. Hinckley and Martinez each added a hit and run scored, while Lerche added an RBI.

Junior Brett Susi started and went the distance for Central. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, while striking out three and walking one. His record is now 3-4 on the season.

Jesus Medina got the win for SHU and is now 2-2 on the year after allowing three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out seven and walked one. James Taubl got his first save of the year, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of work.

Short led the Pioneers at the plate with two hits and two runs batted in.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Harbor Yard.