Baseball Topples Bryant to Force Decisive Contest

The Central Connecticut baseball team forced a deciding game with a 7-5 win over top-seeded Bryant on Saturday night at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT. The Blue Devils won their second game of the day, giving up just three hits to the Bulldogs to force the decisive game on Sunday. 

The championship game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 7, Bryant 5
Records: CCSU (27-13), BRY (27-13-1)
Location: Dodd Stadium | Norwich, CT
Pitching Record: W: Sabia (2-2) | L: Wainer (1-1) | Sv: - -

KEY MOMENTS

• Central got on the board in the bottom of the first. Junior Jay Devito reached on an error and moved to third on a single. He would score on a ground out by senior Buddy Dewaine to make it 1-0.
• Bryant got on the scoreboard in the third after Matt Woods scored from first on a double by Jake Gustin to make it 1-1. The Bulldogs would then draw three straight walks to force in a run and load the bases. A fielder's choice ground out would score another run to push the lead to 3-1.
• CCSU would respond by batting around in the third to take the lead. Sophomore Dan Covino was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a ground out to start the inning. Freshman Noah Martinez would lace a single to left to drive in a run. Following an error to extend the inning and put runners on second and third. Senior Dave Matthews grounded out to score a run and make it 3-3. Junior Sam Loda drove a homerun to left field to make it 5-3 and start a string of three straight two-out hits. The Blue Devils would have the bases loaded with two outs before Bryant could escape the inning.
• The Bulldogs took advantage of an error to lead off the fifth inning. Demaurys Rodriguez would then deliver a two-run homerun to right field to tie the game, 5-5.
• The Blue Devils regained the lead with a homerun to right field by Dewaine to begin the bottom of the seventh. Matthews followed with a single and would move to third on a bloop single by freshman Mike Torniero. Matthews would be cut down at home on a fielder's choice, but junior Matt Bertochi would follow with a single to right to score Torniero from second and make it 7-5.

NUMBER TO KNOW

2 - Central had multiple homeruns in a game for the ninth time this season.

NOTES

• Dewaine went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. The homerun was his second of the tournament.
• Junior Dylan Sabia tossed 4.0 shutout innings. He allowed one hit with three strikeouts.
• Torniero went 4-for-4 with a run scored and Martinez had three hits with a run and RBI.
• Loda hit his first homerun of the year and finished with two RBIs.
• Sophomore Tim Buchek came on in relief and went 3.0 innings. He allowed just one earned run on one hit. He walked two and struck out four.
• Junior Peyton Stephens earned the start and tossed 2.0 innings. He allowed only one hit and had two strikeouts, but was charged with three runs and walked six.
• Central has 17 games of 10 or more hits this season.
• The Blue Devils are 34-24 all-time with six titles at the Northeast Conference championship.
• Central has advanced to the championship round through the loser's bracket for the fifth time overall and the second NEC Tournament in a row. The Blue Devils have come back to win the championship on three previous occasions.
• CCSU is facing Bryant in Game 7 of the NEC championship for the second straight tournament. Central defeated the Bulldogs at the 2019 tournament as well.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils play Bryant for the Northeast Conference title at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.