Baseball Advances to NEC Championship Game
The Central Connecticut baseball team rallied for a 5-3 win over Sacred Heart to move to the Northeast Conference championship round on Saturday at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT. The Blue Devils erased a two-run deficit in the sixth inning and then scored to runs in the ninth for the win.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 5, Sacred Heart 3
Records: CCSU (26-13), SHU (23-25)
Location: Dodd Stadium | Norwich, CT
Pitching Record: W: Neuman (4-0) | L: Briggs 4-5) | Sv: - -
KEY MOMENTS
- Isiah Daubon gave Sacred Heart the lead with a solo homerun to lead off the fourth inning. The Pioneers would then string three straight singles with two outs and plate another run to make it 2-0.
- Central's bats were silenced by Ryan LaMay until back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth inning. He would then retire six straight before junior Matt Bertochi led off the sixth with a single. Sophomore Dan Covino then hit a double down the right field line to get CCSU on the board and make it 2-1. Freshman Noah Martinez singled for CCSU's third hit of the inning and drove in Covino to make it 2-2. Senior Buddy Dewaine would hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the go-ahead run and make it 3-2.
- SHU managed to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Danny Glendon drew a one-out walk and would move to third on a bloop single. Glendon would score on a sacrifice squeeze by Anthony Porrino to make it 3-3.
- Central came back in the ninth with a lead off single by Matthews. He moved up on a sac bunt before coming home on a pinch-hit double by freshman Hunter Pasqualini to make it 4-3. A single by Covino would add an insurance run to make it 5-3.
NUMBER TO KNOW
6 - Freshman Dominic Niman recorded a career-high strikeouts in 4.0 innings of relief.
NOTES
- Freshman Jake Neuman got the win throwing 1.1 shutout innings. He had a walk and strikeout.
- Freshman Dominic Niman threw 4.0 innings in relief. He allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
- Covino went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.
- Pasqualini had a RBI on a his pinch-hit double.
- The Blue Devils are 33-24 all-time with six titles at the Northeast Conference championship.
- Central has advanced to the championship round through the loser's bracket for the sixth time. The Blue Devils have come back to win the championship on three occasions.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils play Bryant in the championship round at 8:05 p.m.