Seniors Lift Baseball to 12th Inning Win Over Wagner

In their final home game, the Central Connecticut baseball team got clutch performances from seniors Casey Brown and Matt Martinez for a 6-4 win in 12 innings over Wagner on Saturday at CCSU Baseball Field. Brown threw a complete game and Martinez hit his second homerun of the day to win the game with a walk off blast in the bottom of the 12th.

The win moves CCSU into fourth-place in the Northeast Conference standings as it improved to 23-32 overall and 15-17 in the NEC.

Martinez finished the day 2-for-4 with five runs batted in. The pair of homeruns were his first of the year.

Brown making the final home start of his career struck out a career-high nine batters. He scattered 11 hits and walked just one over 12.0 innings of work.

The Blue Devils opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Junior Franklin Jennings doubled to lead off and moved to third on a fielder's choice. Senior Corey Lerche laid down a bunt for a single to score Jennings and make it 1-0.

Central added to the lead in the second after sophomore John Lippincott reached on a one-out single. Martinez followed with a blast to left field for his first home of the year to make it 3-0.

Wagner got on the board in the top of the fifth. Kyle Cala led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Will Johnson hit into a ground out to shortstop, but it was enough to bring Cala home and make it 3-1.

The Blue Devils got the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Mitch Guilmette led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by junior Tyler Coleman. Martinez drove in his third run of the day with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Guilmette and make it 4-1.

The Seahawks rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth. After drawing a one-out walk, Wagner used aggressive base running and a string of three straight singles to cut the CCSU lead to 4-3. Nick Mascelli and Trey Nicosia each drove in runs during the rally before the Blue Devils induced a double play to end the inning.

Wagner got a run in the top of the ninth to tie the score. Phil Capra was hit by a pitch to lead off and moved to second on a sacrifice. After he was lifted for a pinch-runner, John Lynn doubled down the left field line to plate the tying run and make it 4-4. 

After getting runners on first and second in both the 10th and 11th innings, Central would end the game in the 12th. Coleman drew a leadoff walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. After a ground out and a pitching change, Martinez stepped in and took a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left center to end the game. 

The Blue Devils finished with 11 hits as a team. Martinez, Jennings, Coleman and sophomore Nick Garland had two hits apiece. 

Brown improved to 4-7 with the win and allowed four runs on 11 hits, while striking out nine and walking one.

Nick Pavia started for Wagner. He allowed four runs in 6.0 innings of work. Neil Abbatiello took the loss after allowing one run in 2.1 innings of work. 

Nicosia, Mazzio and Ruta each had two hits as the Seahawks combined for 11 hits as a team.

CCSU honored its five seniors prior to the game: Michael Pastore, Connor Fitzsimons, Lerche, Martinez and Brown. 

The Northeast Conference Championship begins on Thursday, May 26, at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT.