Baseball Stopped by Sacred Heart in Series Opener, 6-2

The Central Connecticut baseball team fell to Sacred Heart, 6-2, on Friday in the opening game of a three-game Northeast Conference series. The series was slated to be played at the Pioneers' home field, but was moved to CCSU Baseball Field due to field conditions. SHU will be the designated home team for the series.

The loss dropped Central to 9-9 overall and 3-1 in NEC play, while Sacred Heart is now 6-14 overall and 1-0 in NEC play.

The Blue Devils churned out 11 hits, but were hampered by leaving 11 runners on base. Senior Nick Landell, junior Dylan Maher and freshman TT Bowens each had two hits for CCSU

CCSU starter, senior Brendan Smith, ran his scoreless innings streak to 12.0 innings over his last two starts before Sacred Heart broke through with three runs in the fourth. The Pioneers got a back-to-back single and double with one out in the inning before Dan Schock hit a homerun to left field to make it 3-0.

Central got a run back with one out in the top of the fifth inning when Bowens slugged a homer to left center to make it 3-1. The Blue Devils would threaten to push across more runs by putting runners on first and second, but the Pioneers would get two more outs to end the threat. 

The Pioneers got a run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead back to three runs at 4-1. They would add two more in the sixth on three straight hits, including a triple by Anthony Capozziello, to make it 6-1.

Junior Nick Garland led off the CCSU seventh with a double and came home on triple by senior Nick Landell to make it 6-2 with no outs. James Taubl would retire three straight to leave Landell stranded.

Central would put two runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings, including getting runners to second and third base in the ninth, but the Pioneers would avoid surrendering a run to sew up the win in the opening game of the series.

Smith went 4.2 innings for the Blue Devils, allowing four runs with four strikeouts, but was saddled with the loss. Landell and Bowens each drove in a run at the plate for CCSU.

Taubl went 8.0 innings, allowing two runs, with three strikeouts and scattering nine hits to get the win. Capozziello finished with three runs, while Schock had three RBIs.

The series continues on Saturday with a single game at CCSU Baseball Field at 12:00 p.m. Sacred Heart will be the designated home team in the series.