April 14, 2022
Baseball Takes Opener at Sacred Heart in Career Win #700 for Hickey
The Central Connecticut baseball team scored two runs late to win the Northeast Conference series opener at Sacred Heart and earn head coach Charlie Hickey his 700th career win on Thursday in Bridgeport, CT. The Blue Devils won 5-3, scoring the winning run in the eighth inning before tacking on a run in the ninth.
The Blue Devils and Pioneers play again on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 5, Sacred Heart 3
Pitching Record: W: Garofalo (1-0) | L: MacDonnell (0-3) | Sv: - -
Records: CCSU (13-11, 5-5 NEC), Sacred Heart (4-28, 3-7 NEC)
Location: Veteran's Park | Bridgeport, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- Central opened the scoring with a three-run third inning. With runners on first and second and one out, sophomore Hunter Pasqualini roped a single down the left field line to drive in the first run. Senior Jay Devito followed with a single to left to drive in a run and make it 2-0. With the bases loaded following a hit by pitch, junior Noah Martinez hit into a groundout that brough home Pasqualini to make it 3-0.
- Sophomore Dominic Niman allowed just three hits in the opening three innings and would keep SHU off the board until the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff single, Joe Emerson reached on an error that allowed a run to score to make it 3-1. Dante D'amore would follow with a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game.
- The Pioneers tied the game in the seventh following a two-out error that allowed Tyler Galletti to score and make it 3-3.
- The Blue Devils scored the winning run in the eighth inning after sophomore Michael Torneiro doubled to left field with two outs and drove in senior Sam Loda.
- In the ninth, a lead off single by Pasqualini and an error put two runners on to set the table for junior Dan Covino who singled home a run to make it 5-3.
NOTES
- CCSU head coach Charlie Hickey is 700-580-6 overall and has a 594-519-5 record in 23 years at CCSU.
- Niman tossed 6.2 innings and was charged with one earned run. He scattered eight hits and struck out three.
- Sophomore Luke Garofalo tossed 2.1 shutout innings and allowed just two hits with two strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.
- CCSU pitchers did not walk a batter for the second straight game.
- Pasqualini went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
- Devito added two hits and an RBI, while Torneiro's double was Central's only extra-base hit of the game.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils and Pioneers play again on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
