Baseball Wins Late at Siena, 8-1, on Tuesday

The Central Connecticut baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning to power a 8-1 win at Siena on Tuesday. The win was the third straight for CCSU and improves to 15-12 overall on the season. Junior Dave Matthews and freshman Jack Nolan each drove in two runs to lead the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils host Bryant for a three-game Northeast Conference series beginning Thursday.

Central trailed by a run until the seventh inning. Junior Buddy Dewaine singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice. Nolan followed with a double to left field to drive in Dewaine and tie the game 1-1.

CCSU broke the game open with four runs in the eighth inning. Sophomore TT Bowens walked to lead off and scored after Matthews followed with a double to give CCSU a 2-1 lead. A Dewaine single moved Matthews to third, before Nolan ripped a one-out double to drive in a run to make it 3-1 and put runners on second and third. Dewaine would score on a passed ball to push the lead to three runs. After a walk and pitching change, CCSU had runners on the corners and Nolan would steal home to push the Blue Devils lead to 5-1.

The Blue Devils tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth inning. Freshman Dylan Sanchez would lead off with a single and the first four hitters to come to bat would all hit safely. Matthews and Dewaine would each drive in a run to push the CCSU lead to 7-1. Sophomore Matt Bertochi would draw a bases-loaded, two-out walk to make it 8-1.

Dewaine went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI as Central had 12 hits as a team. Bowens added two hits and two runs scored. Nolan recorded a pair of doubles, going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Matthews had two hits a run scored and two RBI.

Sophomore Matt Shane started on the mound for CCSU and allowed just one hit and one run. He struck out two and surrendered three walks. Freshman Tim Buchek tossed 3.0 shutout innings in relief to earn the win, while sophomore Peyton Stephens and junior Michael Delease each tossed a shutout inning.

Central hosts first-place Bryant for a three-game Northeast Conference series beginning Thursday, April 18.